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ABSTRACT: Importance
Covert vascular brain injury (VBI) is highly prevalent in community-dwelling older persons, but its clinical and therapeutic implications are debated.Objective
To better understand the clinical significance of VBI to optimize prevention strategies for the most common age-related neurological diseases, stroke and dementia.Data source
We searched for articles in PubMed between 1966 and December 22, 2017, studying the association of 4 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of covert VBI (white matter hyperintensities [WMHs] of presumed vascular origin, MRI-defined covert brain infarcts [BIs], cerebral microbleeds [CMBs], and perivascular spaces [PVSs]) with incident stroke, dementia, or death.Study selection
Data were taken from prospective, longitudinal cohort studies including 50 or more adults.Data extraction and synthesis
We performed inverse variance-weighted meta-analyses with random effects and z score-based meta-analyses for WMH burden. The significance threshold was P < .003 (17 independent tests). We complied with the Meta-analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.Main outcomes and measures
Stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic), dementia (all and Alzheimer disease), and death.Results
Of 2846 articles identified, 94 studies were eligible, with up to 14 529 participants for WMH, 16 012 participants for BI, 15 693 participants for CMB, and 4587 participants for PVS. Extensive WMH burden was associated with higher risk of incident stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 2.45; 95% CI, 1.93-3.12; P < .001), ischemic stroke (HR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.65-3.47; P < .001), intracerebral hemorrhage (HR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.54-6.52; P = .002), dementia (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.40-2.43; P < .001), Alzheimer disease (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.22-1.84; P < .001), and death (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.69-2.36; P < .001). Presence of MRI-defined BIs was associated with higher risk of incident stroke (HR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.87-3.04; P < .001), ischemic stroke (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.67-2.85; P < .001), intracerebral hemorrhage (HR, 3.81; 95% CI, 1.75-8.27; P < .001), and death (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.40-1.91; P < .001). Presence of CMBs was associated with increased risk of stroke (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.55-2.53; P < .001), ischemic stroke (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.40-2.63; P < .001), intracerebral hemorrhage (HR, 3.82; 95% CI, 2.15-6.80; P < .001), and death (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.31-1.80; P < .001). Data on PVS were limited and insufficient to conduct meta-analyses but suggested an association of high PVS burden with increased risk of stroke, dementia, and death; this requires confirmation.Conclusions and relevance
We report evidence that MRI markers of VBI have major clinical significance. This research prompts careful evaluation of the benefit-risk ratio for available prevention strategies in individuals with covert VBI.
SUBMITTER: Debette S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6439887 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
JAMA neurology 20190101 1
<h4>Importance</h4>Covert vascular brain injury (VBI) is highly prevalent in community-dwelling older persons, but its clinical and therapeutic implications are debated.<h4>Objective</h4>To better understand the clinical significance of VBI to optimize prevention strategies for the most common age-related neurological diseases, stroke and dementia.<h4>Data source</h4>We searched for articles in PubMed between 1966 and December 22, 2017, studying the association of 4 magnetic resonance imaging (M ...[more]