Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Sex differences among patients with giant cell arteritis: insights from the Spanish ARTESER Registry
Authors' conclusion
Women more frequently exhibited the extracranial phenotype, required more csDMARDs, and experienced a higher incidence of fractures. In contrast, men more commonly presented with the mixed phenotype, had more cataracts, and showed a higher mortality rate.
Study context
- Population
- Patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA), 1 June 2013 to 29 March 2019, 26 hospitals in Spain; age ≥50 years; diagnosis confirmed by imaging, 1990 ACR classification criteria or expert clinical judgment
- Participants
- 1,675 patients
- Exposure
- Women vs men with GCA
- Outcome
- Sex-based differences in clinical presentation, vascular phenotype, diagnostic approaches, treatment, adverse events and outcomes
Methodological detailsmulticentre, registry (ARTESER), 26 hospitals in Spain
- Multicentre
- Registry (ARTESER)
- 26 hospitals in Spain
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Vascular phenotype
Extracranial phenotype, % (women vs men)
14.8% vs 9.9%
P = 0.039
Women vs Men · more prevalent in women
Mixed phenotype, % (men vs women)
17.7% vs 11.7%
P = 0.002
Men vs Women · more common in men
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Positive temporal artery USMore frequently positive in men | % positive (men vs women) 73.5% vs 65.1% | P = 0.025 |
| csDMARD prescriptionMore often in women | % prescribed (women vs men) 35.3% vs 28.2% | P = 0.005 |
| MortalityHigher in men | % (men vs women) 13.8% vs 6.6% | P < 0.001 |
GC and tocilizumab use
- Did not differ by sex
Remission and relapse
- Remission rates, similar between sexes
- 23.1% vs 23.8%
- Relapse frequencies, similar between sexes
- 19.7% vs 19.3%
Safety
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| FracturesSignificantly more frequent in women | % (women vs men) 22.4% vs 10.9% | P = 0.010 |
| CataractsSignificantly more frequent in men | % (men vs women) 6.0% vs 2.8% | P = 0.010 |
Original publication
Sex differences among patients with giant cell arteritis: insights from the Spanish ARTESER Registry. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 26 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →