Silent stroke and control of risk factors

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease is the first cause of disability and the third of death. ICS is defined as an ischemic brain lesion found incidentally on neuroimaging in presumed healthy people. It predominates in older adults and associates cardiovascular risk factors. It is a risk factor for dementia, stroke, gait disorders, depression and death. Periodic clinical control of cardiovascular risk factors decreases the incidence of ICS and its consequences. Objectives: To evaluate ICS and clinical control. Identify frequent risk factors. Characterize clinical controls.

Prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from January to June 2022. 102 patients from the HNC neurology clinic were included. Age range from 49 to 94. All patients had neuroimaging that met ICS criteria performed in the last year. Data from the clinical history and anamnesis were used.

53% were male. Of the total, 30% carried out annual controls. The lesions were 46% leukoaraiosis, 37% heart attacks and 17% lacunae. The risk factors were: hypertension with 70%, diabetes 40%, 37% previous stroke. 70% of the patients did not have clinical/cardiological controls in the last year. Of these, 28% had an echocardiogram, 17% echo Doppler of the neck vessels, 32% an electrocardiogram, and 51% laboratory tests. In patients without clinical control, 41% have 3 or more cardiovascular risk factors, 24% have 2 risk factors, and 18% have only one risk factor. 15% reported no cardiovascular history.

The patients with ICS evaluated do not have clinical controls or regular complementary studies of their known risk factors. The findings propose an adequate education and information to the community about the importance that their cardiovascular diseases require to reduce the neurovascular impact.