Risk Factors of Hocevar et al for a Severe Cranial Ischemic Event Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis

Patient selection: giant cell arteritis (GCA)

Cranial ischemic events:

(1) ischemic stroke

(2) permanent visual loss

Risk factors for cranial ischemic events:

(1) jaw claudication (odds ratio 3.4)

(2) smoking (odds ratio 1.9)

(3) increasing age (odds ratio 1.08; age with cranial event 73.7 to 81.6 years vs 66.3 to 79.1 for those without)

Additional risk factors associated with ischemic stroke:

(1) atrial fibrillation

Factors associated with a reduced risk for permanent vision loss:

(1) higher serum CRP concentrations (odds ratio 0.99; those with cranial event had concentrations of 32 to 100 mg/L vs 41 to 142 for those without)

(2) polymyalgia rheumatica