Patients with giant cell arteritis have a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><i>Objective</i>: The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients who are recently diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA) with age- and sex-matched controls.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that (1) consisted of GCA cohort and non-GCA cohort that was randomly selected from the same population and (2) provided prevalences of DM at the time of diagnosis for patients with GCA and at the index date for controls. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effect, Mantel–Haenszel analysis.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Five studies with 903 patients with GCA and 1064 controls were identified and included in our data analysis. We demonstrated a statistically significant lower prevalence of DM among patients with GCA with the pooled OR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.57–0.97).</p> <p><i>Conclusion</i>: At diagnosis, patients with GCA had a lower prevalence of DM. Whether DM could be a protective factor against the development of GCA needs further investigations.</p

Baseline risk factors in patients with incident giant cell arteritis during the period 1950–2009 and association with time to first cerebrovascular or venous thromboembolism event.

<p>Baseline risk factors in patients with incident giant cell arteritis during the period 1950–2009 and association with time to first cerebrovascular or venous thromboembolism event.</p

Cumulative incidence rates of venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular events in the 244 patients with incident GCA in the period from 1950–2009 compared to the 240 subjects without GCA.

<p>Cumulative incidence rates of venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular events in the 244 patients with incident GCA in the period from 1950–2009 compared to the 240 subjects without GCA.</p

Cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolic events.

<p>Cumulative incidence (%) of venous thromboembolism in 244 patients with incident GCA in the period 1950–2009 (solid line) compared to 240 subjects without GCA (dashed line).</p

Criteria for event inclusion in the study for venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular events in patients with GCA and non-GCA subjects^*.

<p>Criteria for event inclusion in the study for venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular events in patients with GCA and non-GCA subjects^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0149579#t001fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Cumulative incidence of cerebrovascular events.

<p>Cumulative incidence (%) of cerebrovascular events in 244 patients with incident GCA in the period 1950–2009 (solid line) compared to 240 subjects without GCA (dashed line).</p