Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
The one-year infection risk among patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis: use of antibiotics and hospitalisations
Main finding · Overall infectionsResult — go to the resultRelative risk 1.40 95% CI 1.38–1.42Authors' conclusion
The use of antibiotic prescriptions and infection-related hospitalisations in the first year after a GCA diagnosis is high compared with the background population. The cumulative glucocorticoid dose is associated with the infection risk.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥50 years with a first-time giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis, Danish National Patient Registry (1996–2022), and matched general population individuals
- Participants
- 17,773 vs 177,730
- Exposure
- Patients with GCA vs matched general population individuals
- GCAn = 17,773
- Referencen = 177,730reference
- Outcome
- Overall infections (redeemed antibiotic prescriptions or infection-related hospitalisations), 1-year cumulative incidence proportion
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailsmatched 1:10 by sex and date of birth, pseudo-observation approach, registry-based
- Matched 1:10 by sex and date of birth
- Pseudo-observation approach
- Registry-based
Main finding
Overall infections
Relative risk
1.40
95% CI 1.38–1.42
By group
GCA
52.4%
Cumulative incidence proportions (CIP) · 95% CI 51.7–53.2
GCAvs Reference
RR 1.40 (95% CI 1.38–1.42)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | GCA | RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infection-related hospitalisations · 1 year | CIP 17.6% (95% CI 17.1–18.2) | 2.71 (2.61–2.82) | |
| 0.20.5125Relative risk (log scale) |
Risk factors for infection among patients with GCA
- Higher cumulative GC doses, advanced age (≥70 years) and higher comorbidity associated with increased infection risk
Original publication
The one-year infection risk among patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis: use of antibiotics and hospitalisations. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 10 February 2024. doi:10.
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