Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) after non-embolic ischemic stroke during a 12-month follow-up in Brazil

Abstract

VCI represents a spectrum of cognitive impairments associated with stroke, vascular brain injury, or subclinical disease ranging from the least to most severe manifestations. Few studies are available on the prevalence of post-stroke VCI and none have been conducted in Brazil.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence rates of VCI and associated risk factors in a sample of ischemic stroke patients.MethodsWe evaluated 172 patients with ischemic stroke for cognitive impairment one year after ictus.ResultsPatients comprised 81 women (47.1%) and had a mean age of 67.77 (7.86) years, schooling of 3.52 (2.99) years, and MMSE score of 24.94 (3.59) points. After cognitive evaluation, 4.6% were diagnosed as CIND (cognitive impairment no dementia) and 12.2% had a diagnosis of dementia (probable vascular dementia in 20 patients and one subject with cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease).ConclusionThe prevalence of dementia was lower than previous reports but our sample had a lower age than others, while a 12 month-period of follow-up prevented interference from associated neurodegenerative disorders.

Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment after Ischemic Stroke

“…Record of hypertension is not a risk factor for cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke. The results of this study correspond with previous studies [21,22]. Results of previous studies were not consistent with the research conducted by Arntzen et al [23].…”

Diversity of approaches in assessment of executive functions in stroke: Limited evidence?

“…The rate of vascular cognitive impairment ranges from 10.5 to 37% of patients without stroke or dementia [69] , [70] , [71] . In Brazil, for instance, vascular cognitive impairment in patients with ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 16.8% of 172 subjects [72] . It is important that studies about executive function in patients with stroke define whether vascular cognitive impairment was an exclusion criterion.…”

Diagnóstico do comprometimento cognitivo vascular: recomendações do Departamento Científico de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia

“…Considering that VD usually affects up to a third of individuals who have suffered a stroke, it is observed that the VCIND segment has a higher prevalence than dementia conditions 23 . A Brazilian study evaluated 172 patients one year after an ischemic stroke and found that 12.2% of cases met the criteria for probable VD 24 . Another study estimated that approximately 5% of individuals over 65 years of age had VCI, with 2.4% in the VCI-ND stage and 1.5% in the DV stage 6 .…”