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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough the exact cause of giant cell arteritis isn't known, several factors can increase your risk, including:
- Age. Giant cell arteritis affects older adults almost exclusively — the average age at onset of the disease is 70, and it rarely occurs in people younger than 50.
- Sex. Women are two to three times more likely to develop giant cell arteritis than men are.
- Race. Although giant cell arteritis can affect people of any race, the vast majority of people affected are white. People of Scandinavian origin are particularly at risk.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica. People with the arthritic condition polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which causes stiffness and aching in the neck, shoulders and hips, have an increased risk of giant cell arteritis. Up to 15 percent of people with polymyalgia rheumatica also have giant cell arteritis.
