Thinking from the Heart: Neurocristopathy, Aortic Abnormalities, and Intracranial Aneurysms

Prevalence of Intracranial Aneurysm in Patients With Aortic Disease in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Background Patients with aortic disease (AD) might have a higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysm (IA). The present study evaluated the prevalence of IA in patients with AD and identified potential risk factors of IA using nationwide representative cohort sample data. Methods and Results We defined AD as both aortic dissections and aortic aneurysms. This study used a nationwide representative cohort sample from the Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database from 1.1million patients. Using χ² or Fisher's exact tests, the prevalence of the IA in patients with AD and potential risk factors for their concurrence were analyzed. The prevalence of IA in patients with AD was 6.8% (155/2285). The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for having concurrent IA in patients with AD was 3.809 (95% CI, 3.191-4.546; P<0.01). Patients with AD and hypertension were >19 times more likely to be affected by IA (adjusted OR, 18.679; 95% CI, 16.555-21.076; P<0.01). Patients with AD and diabetes mellitus, old age (>60 years), and male sex were >4, 3, and 2 times more likely to be affected by IA, respectively (adjusted OR, 4.291, 3.469, and 1.983, respectively; 95% CI, 3.914-4.704, 3.152-3.878, and 1.779-2.112, respectively). Subgroup analysis with socioeconomic status or disability revealed that the prevalence of IA was significantly higher in all groups. Conclusions In the current population-based study, the prevalence of IA in patients with AD was quadrupled compared with that in the general population. Early IA screening might be considered among patients with AD for appropriate management.

Prevalence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Patients with Aortic Aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous studies have suggested an association between aortic aneurysms and intracranial aneurysms with a higher prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with aortic aneurysms. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the incidence of intracranial aneurysms in a large cohort of patients with aortic aneurysms and to identify potential risk factors for intracranial aneurysms in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included all patients with aortic aneurysms (either abdominal and/or thoracic) who had available cerebral arterial imaging and were seen at our institution during a 15-year period. We identified patients with intracranial aneurysms. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and aortic aneurysm and intracranial aneurysm sizes and locations were analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed with a χ(2) test for categoric variables and a Student t test or ANOVA for continuous variables.

RESULTS

A total of 1081 patients with aortic aneurysms were included. Of them, 440 (40.7%) had abdominal aortic aneurysms, 446 (41.3%) had thoracic aortic aneurysms, and 195 (18.0%) had both abdominal aortic and thoracic aortic aneurysms. The overall prevalence of associated intracranial aneurysms in patients with aortic aneurysms was 11.8% (128/1081), with 12.7% (56/440), 10.8% (48/446), and 12.3% (24/195), respectively, in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms, and both thoracic aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Female patients had a higher risk of associated intracranial aneurysms (OR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.49-3.03; P = .0002). There was a slight association between abdominal aortic aneurysm size and the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; P = .045). There was no significant association between the locations of the aortic and intracranial aneurysms (P = .93).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms is high in patients with aortic aneurysms. Further studies examining the role and cost-effectiveness of intracranial aneurysm screening in patients are warranted.