The effect of carotid atherosclerosis on the progression of cerebral small vessel disease: based on Shunyi Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective To analyze the effect of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis on the progression of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in Shunyi cohort community population. Methods A total of 658 residents aged ≥ 35 years old from Shunyi cohort population (from June 2013 to April 2016) were selected as study subjects. Carotid ultrasound was used to assess the presence of baseline carotid plaque, and CSVD progression was assessed by baseline and follow ⁃ up MRI, which included lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of carotid plaque on incident lacunes or CMBs, and linear regression was used to analyze the linear correlation between baseline carotid plaque and WMH progression. Results Among 658 people 250 people (37.99%) had carotid plaque at baseline. After (5.57 ± 0.49) years of follow⁃up, 70 people (10.64%) developed incident lacunes and 56 people (8.51%) had incident CMBs. The annual WMH progression was 0.28 (0.14, 0.55) cm3/year. Logistic regression analysis showed the presence of baseline carotid plaque significantly predicted incident CMBs (OR = 2.411, 95%CI: 1.240- 4.687; P = 0.009). Conclusions Prensence of carotid plaque increased CMBs progression during five⁃year follow⁃up, but the influence on lacunes and WMH progression requires a longer cumulative effect.

Keywords

• cerebral small vessel diseases
• plaque, atherosclerotic
• carotid arteries
• longitudinal studies
• residence characteristics