INCIDENCE AND SURVIVAL RATE IN CASES OF BIOPSY-PROVEN TEMPORAL ARTERITIS

In the population of the city of Tampere, Finland, 66 patients with hi stologically verified temporal arteritis were identified during the 20 -year period from 1969 to 89. The cases were followed up to March 31st in 1991. The annual age- and sex-adjusted incidence of temporal arter itis per 100 000 population aged 50 or older was 4.5 in 1970-79 and 9. 2 in 1980-89. The patients showed excess mortality although this was n ot statistically significant. After excluding hypertensive disease, an gina pectoris and congestive heart disease the survival of the remaini ng subgroup did not differ from the control population.