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Table 3 The incidence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in various populations and key features of underlying epidemiologic studies

From: Incidence of giant cell arteritis in Western Norway 1972–2012: a retrospective cohort study

Location (reference)

Time period

Inclusion criteria

Number of subjects (N)

Annual incidencea

Biopsy-proven only

All casesb

Biopsy-proven only

All casesb

Norway (PS)

1972–2012

ACR 1990 criteria

528

792

11.2

16.7

Norway [11]

1992–1996

Clinical diagnosis

47

53

29.1

32.8

Norway [13]

1987–1994

Biopsy-proven only

66

NR

29.0

NR

Sweden [29]

1997–2010

Biopsy-proven only

840

NR

14.1

NR

Sweden [36]

1976–1995

Biopsy-proven only

665

NR

22.2

NR

Sweden [47]

1973–1975

Clinical diagnosis

74

126

16.8

28.6

Finland [46]

1969–1989

Biopsy-proven only

66

NR

7.2

NR

Denmark [38]

1982–1994

Clinical diagnosis

NR

NR

15.1

20.4

Iceland [7]

1984–1990

Clinical diagnosis

125

133

25.4

27.0

Minnesota, USA [9]

2000–2009

ACR 1990 criteria + radiologic criteriac

56

74

NR

19.8

New Zealand [6]

1996–2005

Biopsy-proven only

70

NR

12.7

NR

Israel [39]

1990–2009

ACR 1990 criteria

NR

140

NR

8.1

Italy [14]

1986–2012

Biopsy-proven only

285

NR

5.8

NR

Spain [40]

1981–2005

Biopsy-proven only

255

NR

10.1

NR

Turkey [41]

2002–2008

Clinical diagnosis

13

19

NR

1.1

  1. PS present study, NR not reported, ACR American College of Rheumatology
  2. aMean annual incidence reported as cases per 100,000 population age ≥50 years
  3. bIncluding probable cases based on clinical diagnosis despite negative biopsy or in patients in whom biopsy was not performed
  4. cSeven patients were included based on radiologic criteria. These were all ≥50 years old with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein, and evidence of large-vessel vasculitis on angiographic computed tomography, angiographic magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography