To estimate and project the number of people affected worldwide by giant cell arteritis (GCA) by 2050. Modeling the number of people visually impaired as a result of this disease will help establish the projected morbidity and resource burden.

A systematic literature review up to December 2013 was conducted using PubMed and ISI Web of Science. Studies reporting an incidence rate for GCA were used to model disease incident cases at regional and national levels. United Nations Population Prospect data were used for population projections. Morbidity burden was established through rates of visual impairment. The associated financial implications were calculated for the United States.

The number of incident cases of GCA will increase secondary to an aging population. By 2050, more than 3 million people will have been diagnosed with GCA in Europe, North America, and Oceania. About 500,000 people will be visually impaired. By 2050, in the United States alone, the estimated cost from visual impairment due to GCA will exceed US 76billion.InpatientcareforpatientswithactiveGCAwilltotalaboutUS 1 billion. Management of steroid-related adverse events will increase costs further, with steroid-induced fractures estimated to total US 6billionby2050.

ProjectingdiseaseburdenforGCAonaglobalscaleallowsforoptimizationofhealthcareplanningandprioritizationofresearchdomains.Additionalpopulation-basedstudiesarerequiredtomoreaccuratelyprojectworldwidediseaseburden.OurworkhighlightsthefutureglobaldiseaseburdenofGCA,andillustratestheassociatedfinancialimplications.