LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and impact of cerebrovascular risk factors (CRF) on cerebrovascular events (CVE) in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS Analysis of the patients diagnosed with GCA identified in the Spanish Hospital Discharge Database between 2016 and 2018. RESULTS 8,474 hospital admissions from patients diagnosed with GCA were identified. 3.4% of the admissions were motivated by CVE (stroke in 2.8% and transient ischemic attack in 0.6%). When compared with the admissions due to other causes, the patients who suffered from CVE presented a higher rate of male sex (36.2% vs 43.5%, p=0.007), hypertension (66.9% vs 74.4%, p=0.004), diabetes (27.6% vs 33.7%, p=0.016) and atherosclerosis (6.6% vs 10.2%, p=0.0.017). After adjustment, male sex (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.72) and mainly hypertension (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.90) were associated with a higher risk of CVE. CONCLUSION Hypertension, along with male sex, was the strongest risk factor for cerebrovascular events in GCA patients. In these high-risk patients, antiplatelet therapy should be re-considered and evaluated in prospective studies.