Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence?
Objective Previous studies, although inconclusive, have suggested possible associations of environmental risk factors with the development of giant cell arteritis (GCA). We aim to investigate seasonal influence on the incidence of GCA across Australia and New Zealand.Methods In establishing an inter...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2017-08-01
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| Series: | RMD Open |
| Online Access: | https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000531.full |
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| author | Matthew A Brown Tony R Merriman Paul G Sanfilippo Alex W Hewitt Catherine L Hill Elisabeth De Smit Linda Clarke |
| author_facet | Matthew A Brown Tony R Merriman Paul G Sanfilippo Alex W Hewitt Catherine L Hill Elisabeth De Smit Linda Clarke |
| author_sort | Matthew A Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Previous studies, although inconclusive, have suggested possible associations of environmental risk factors with the development of giant cell arteritis (GCA). We aim to investigate seasonal influence on the incidence of GCA across Australia and New Zealand.Methods In establishing an international study to investigate the molecular aetiology of GCA, archived temporal artery biopsy (TAB) specimens primarily from Australia and New Zealand were obtained. Demographic details including age, sex and date of TAB were collected from collaborating pathology departments. The season in which GCA was diagnosed was determined and compared with previous reports investigating the association between environmental risk factors and GCA.Results Our study comprises data from 2224 TAB-positive patients with GCA; 2099 of which were from patients in Australia and New Zealand. The mean age at time of diagnosis was 76.4 years of age. The female-to-male ratio was 2.2:1. We noted equal distribution of the incidence rate across all four seasons (530–580 cases diagnosed every quarter). Statistical analysis of seasonal variation by Poisson regression and cosinor methods showed no incidence preponderance across seasons. Our results do not support a seasonal component contributing to the onset of disease. Our literature search identifies no consistent environmental risk factor in association with GCA.Conclusion This is the largest GCA data set reported outside of Europe. Our results demonstrate equal distribution of the incidence rate across all four seasons. In contrast to some earlier reports, we did not identify evidence of a seasonal component contributing to the onset of disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80c96ba13b0d4b00bca88f13aaa1e992 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-5933 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
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| series | RMD Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-80c96ba13b0d4b00bca88f13aaa1e9922025-02-10T06:15:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupRMD Open2056-59332017-08-013210.1136/rmdopen-2017-000531Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence?Matthew A Brown0Tony R Merriman1Paul G Sanfilippo2Alex W Hewitt3Catherine L Hill4Elisabeth De Smit5Linda Clarke6University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital,Brisbane Australia2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandCentre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaCentre for Eye Research Australia Ltd, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaThe University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia1 Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia1 Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaObjective Previous studies, although inconclusive, have suggested possible associations of environmental risk factors with the development of giant cell arteritis (GCA). We aim to investigate seasonal influence on the incidence of GCA across Australia and New Zealand.Methods In establishing an international study to investigate the molecular aetiology of GCA, archived temporal artery biopsy (TAB) specimens primarily from Australia and New Zealand were obtained. Demographic details including age, sex and date of TAB were collected from collaborating pathology departments. The season in which GCA was diagnosed was determined and compared with previous reports investigating the association between environmental risk factors and GCA.Results Our study comprises data from 2224 TAB-positive patients with GCA; 2099 of which were from patients in Australia and New Zealand. The mean age at time of diagnosis was 76.4 years of age. The female-to-male ratio was 2.2:1. We noted equal distribution of the incidence rate across all four seasons (530–580 cases diagnosed every quarter). Statistical analysis of seasonal variation by Poisson regression and cosinor methods showed no incidence preponderance across seasons. Our results do not support a seasonal component contributing to the onset of disease. Our literature search identifies no consistent environmental risk factor in association with GCA.Conclusion This is the largest GCA data set reported outside of Europe. Our results demonstrate equal distribution of the incidence rate across all four seasons. In contrast to some earlier reports, we did not identify evidence of a seasonal component contributing to the onset of disease.https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000531.full |
| spellingShingle | Matthew A Brown Tony R Merriman Paul G Sanfilippo Alex W Hewitt Catherine L Hill Elisabeth De Smit Linda Clarke Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? RMD Open |
| title | Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? |
| title_full | Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? |
| title_fullStr | Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? |
| title_short | Geo-epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy-positive giant cell arteritis in Australia and New Zealand: is there a seasonal influence? |
| title_sort | geo epidemiology of temporal artery biopsy positive giant cell arteritis in australia and new zealand is there a seasonal influence |
| url | https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000531.full |
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