Studies included in the meta-analysis
| First author, publication year | Country | Population | Study design | Start of study enrolment |
| von Knorring, 197936 | Finland | PMR | Observational | 1967 |
| Godeau, 198237 | France | GCA | Observational | 1966 |
| Chuang, 198238 | USA | PMR | Observational | 1970 |
| Behn, 198339 | UK | PMR | Observational | 1968 |
| Gouet, 198540 | France | GCA | Observational | 1970 |
| Andersson, 198641 | Sweden | GCA | Observational | 1968 |
| Delecoeuillerie, 198842 | France | GCA | Observational | 1976 |
| Nesher, 199443 | Israel | GCA | Observational | 1978 |
| Gabriel, 199744 | USA | PMR | Observational | 1970 |
| Jover, 20018 | Spain | GCA | RCT | 1993 |
| Proven, 200345 | USA | GCA | Observational | 1950 |
| Hutchings, 200746 | UK | PMR | Observational | 2001 |
| Salvarani, 200747 | Italy | PMR | RCT | 2003 |
| Cimmino, 200848 | Italy | PMR | RCT | 1998 |
| Schmidt, 200849 | Germany | GCA | Observational | 1997 |
| Dasgupta, 200950 | UK | PMR | Observational | 2001 |
| Khalifa, 200951 | Tunisia | GCA | Observational | 1986 |
| Martinez-Lado, 201152 | Spain | GCA | Observational | 1992 |
| Mazzantini, 201253 | Italy | PMR | Observational | 1997 |
| Dunstan, 201454 | Australia | GCA | Observational | 1991 |
| Alba, 201455 | Spain | GCA | Observational | 1995 |
| Seror, 201456 | France | GCA | RCT | 2006 |
| Muller, 201657 | France | GCA | Observational | 2002 |
| Carbonella, 201658 | Italy | GCA | Observational | NA |
| Faurschou, 201731 | Denmark | GCA | Observational | 1997 |
GCA, giant cell arteritis; PMR, Polymyalgia rheumatica; RCT, randomised controlled trial.