More than 30,000 people aged 40-70 years were recruited into the study during 1993-1997, and 25,600 people (440,237 at-risk person-years) who had the necessary baseline and follow-up data were included in the current analysis performed by Dr. Yates and associates.
A total of 395 cases of PMR and 118 cases of GCA were identified using current classification criteria. Those with PMR were diagnosed at a mean age of 73.6 years and those with GCA at a mean age of 74.1 years. For both conditions, about three-quarters of patients were women.
The investigators then looked back at the patients’ original recruitment data in terms of their cardiovascular risk factors, which included their blood pressure readings; body mass index; smoking status; presence of diabetes; hsCRP; and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol levels.
“Ultimately, these traditional cardiovascular risk factors are present early on, prior to PMR and GCA,” Dr. Yates said.