Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for patients with biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in South Australia
Authors' conclusion
This is the first Australian study to determine the significant burden of GCA, particularly in the 12 months following diagnosis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥50 years with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA), South Australia; Emergency department (ED) presentations and hospital admissions 2001–2022
- Participants
- 435 vs 2,124
- Exposure
- Biopsy-proven GCA vs controls
- GCAn = 435
- Controlsn = 2,124reference
- Outcome
- Rates of ED presentation and hospital admission
Methodological detailsdata-linkage, matched controls (4:1) from the same sociodemographic distribution, recurrent event Andersen-Gill time-to-event models
- Data-linkage
- Matched controls (4:1) from the same sociodemographic distribution
- Recurrent event Andersen-Gill time-to-event models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GCA vs ControlsHazard ratio (95% CI)
ED presentations
1.74(1.48–2.03)
Hospital admissions
1.73(1.14–2.61)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Principal admission diagnosisGCAvs ControlsInfection | 1.53 (1.12–2.09) | |
| Principal admission diagnosisGCAvs ControlsCerebrovascular disease | 1.99 (1.17–3.36) | |
| Principal admission diagnosisGCAvs ControlsOsteoporosis/osteoporotic fracture | 4.0 (1.06–15.08) | |
| Principal admission diagnosisGCAvs ControlsPulmonary embolus | 4.35 (1.53–12.27) | |
| Principal admission diagnosisGCAvs ControlsAtherosclerosis | 9.73 (3.22–29.4) | |
| 0.050.21520Hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Principal admission diagnosisGCA vs Controls · diverticulitis (CI as printed) | HR 4.74 (95% CI 1.12–2.09) | |
| Cumulative Elixhauser comorbidity score at last visit | age-adjusted mean difference −0.1 | P = 0.59 |
Mean LOS
- Mean length of stay was equivalent
Cumulative Elixhauser comorbidity score at last visit
- No difference between GCA patients and controls
Original publication
Emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for patients with biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in South Australia. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 18 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →