Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33706808›Full record

SynthesisArthritis research & therapy2021

A meta-analysis of the epidemiology of giant cell arteritis across time and space.

Katherine J Li, Daniel Semenov, Matthew Turk, Janet Pope

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Arthritis research & therapy, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 84 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
84citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

84 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  20. Clinical Decision-Making Case: A Giant Headache.Journal of education & teaching in emergency medicine · 2025
    Article

24 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Katherine J Li *Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, St. Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor St, D2 Rheumatology, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.
Daniel Semenov *Schulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, St. Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor St, D2 Rheumatology, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada.
Matthew TurkUniversity College Dublin, School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Janet PopeSchulich School of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, St. Joseph's Health Care, 268 Grosvenor St, D2 Rheumatology, London, ON, N6A 4V2, Canada. janet.pope@sjhc.london.on.ca.ORCID 0000-0003-1479-5302

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is a common large vessel vasculitis in those over age 50 years. This meta-analysis examined the geographical and temporal distribution of the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of GCA.

methodsA systematic review was conducted using EMBASE, Scopus, and PubMed from their inceptions until 2019. Studies were included if they reported at least 50 or more GCA patients and defined the location and time frame. Articles on mortality were included and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was extracted where possible. Mean pooled prevalence, incidence, and SMR were calculated using a random effects model. Linear regression was used to explore correlations between latitude and incidence, prevalence, and mortality.

resultsOf the 3569 citations identified, 107 were included. The pooled incidence of GCA was 10.00 [9.22, 10.78] cases per 100,000 people over 50 years old. This incidence was highest in Scandinavia 21.57 [18.90, 24.23], followed by North and South America 10.89 [8.78, 13.00], Europe 7.26 [6.05, 8.47], and Oceania 7.85 [- 1.48, 17.19]. Pooled prevalence was 51.74 [42.04, 61.43] cases per 100,000 people over age 50. Annual mortality was 20.44 [17.84, 23.03] deaths/1000. Mortality generally decreased over the years of publication (p = 0.0008). Latitude correlated significantly with incidence (p = 0.0011), but not with prevalence, or mortality.

conclusionsGCA incidence varies nearly 3-fold between regions and is highest in Scandinavia but not significantly. Mortality may be improving over time.

Indexed as

Giant Cell ArteritisEuropeHumansIncidenceMiddle AgedPrevalenceScandinavian and Nordic CountriesEpidemiologyGCAGeographic variationGiant cell arteritisIncidenceMeta-analysisMortalityPrevalenceTemporal arteritisTemporal trend

Identifiers

PMID33706808
PMCPMC7948334

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.