Objective We aimed to assess the occurrence of infections requiring or acquired during hospitalizations in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods We retrospectively reviewed a population-based incidence cohort of GCA patients diagnosed between 1950 and 2009 and compared this cohort with age, sex and calendar year matched cohort from the same population. Results We identified 245 patients in the GCA cohort and 245 patients in the non-GCA cohort. 74 GCA (134 episodes) and 79 non-GCA (153 episodes) subjects had infections requiring, or acquired during hospitalizations [Rate ratio (RR) 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74, 1.18]. 67 subjects (107 episodes) in GCA cohort and 63 subjects (110 episodes) in non-GCA cohort required hospitalization secondary to an infection [RR 1.04; CI (0.80, 1.36)]. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections accounted for the majority of infections requiring hospitalizations and had similar occurrence in both cohorts. Urinary tract infections accounted for the majority of infections requiring hospitalization in the first 6 months after GCA incidence [RR 3.93; CI (0.85, 56.52)]. No difference between the two cohorts was noted in overall infections acquired during hospitalizations [RR 0.68; CI (0.41, 1.08)]. Conclusion There is no overall increased risk of infections requiring or acquired during hospitalizations in patients with giant cell arteritis on glucocorticoid therapy. There may be an increased risk of infections requiring hospitalization, especially of the urinary tract in the first six months after GCA incidence although this did not achieve statistical significance in our study.
【저자키워드】 Hospitalization, Infection, Cohort studies, giant cell arteritis,