1
|
Wu CY, Yu HS, Chai CY, Wen YH, Wu SS, Chang YP, Lin CHR, Tsai JH. Increased ischemic stroke risk in patients with Behçet's disease: A nationwide population-based cohort study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218652. [PMID: 31237911 PMCID: PMC6592528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Behçet’s disease (BD) is a recurrent, multisystemic, inflammatory disorder that mainly affects blood vessels. Because recurrent inflammation of blood vessels in the brain plays a crucial role in the development of ischemic stroke, we hypothesized that patients with BD might have an elevated risk of ischemic stroke. This potential association has been suggested in a few case reports, but not epidemiological studies. Hence, the present study aimed to examine the relation between BD and subsequent ischemic stroke in Taiwan using a nationwide, population-based database. Methods To establish a study cohort, the longitudinal data of 306 patients newly diagnosed with BD during 2000–2010 were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan. For comparison of ischemic stroke incidence, a control cohort of 1224 subjects without BD was established using a frequency-matched ratio of 1:4 for age, sex, and pre-existing comorbidities. Results During the 10-year follow-up, 13 (4.2%) patients with BD and 20 (1.6%) control subjects experienced ischemic stroke. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed the higher prevalence of ischemic stroke in the BD group (log-rank test, p = 0.001). After adjusting for comorbidities and demographic characteristics, Cox regression analysis revealed that patients with BD had a 2.77-fold risk of ischemic stroke (95% confidence interval, 1.38–5.57) compared to control subjects. Conclusions Patients with BD have an elevated risk of ischemic stroke. Hence, BD may affect the vascular system in the brain, resulting in a stroke event.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Ying Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Cosmetic Science, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Su Yu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (H-S Y); (C-HR L); (J-H T)
| | - Chee-Yin Chai
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsia Wen
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shihn-Sheng Wu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Pei Chang
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hung Richard Lin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (H-S Y); (C-HR L); (J-H T)
| | - Jui-Hsiu Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (H-S Y); (C-HR L); (J-H T)
| |
Collapse
|