Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Frequency, diagnosis, and management of polymyalgia rheumatica in Germany—database analysis of medical insurance data
Authors' conclusion
This analysis revealed that PMR occurs more frequently in individuals aged 50 or older in Germany than previously assumed. Diagnosis is primarily made in general practice settings, with about one-third of patients being treated by rheumatologists. Comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases are common in the prevalent population.
Study context
- Population
- Insured individuals aged ≥50 years in Germany with continuous insurance for 3 years (InGef research database, representative sample of 4.8 million)≈1.7 million included per year
- Outcome
- Incidence and prevalence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), extrapolated to the German population
- Follow-up
- 2021
Methodological detailsinsurance claims database analysis, extrapolated to the German population
- Insurance claims database analysis
- Extrapolated to the German population
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incidence
111/100 000
Prevalence
937/100 000
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Setting and specialty of diagnosis
- Outpatient settings
- 86.7%
- General practitioners
- 37.1%
- Internists
- 22.2%
- Rheumatologists
- 11.4%
- Orthopaedists
- 10.2%
- Additionally referred to rheumatologists after diagnosis
- 21%
Treatment including MTX
- MTX
- 19.8%
- Treatment most commonly initiated by general practitioners (GPs), followed by rheumatologists
Comorbidities of prevalent patients
- Arterial hypertension
- 75.9%
- Dyslipidaemia
- 55.0%
- Diabetes mellitus
- 29.7%
- Osteoporosis
- 27.1%
- Coronary heart disease
- 23.4%
- Cataract
- 24.3%
Original publication
Frequency, diagnosis, and management of polymyalgia rheumatica in Germany—database analysis of medical insurance data. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 7 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →