Prevalence of White Matter Hyperintensity in Young Clinical Patients

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) without specific causes in young clinical outpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 1249 young clinical outpatients who underwent an unenhanced head MRI examination between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016, were included in the study. The chi-square test was used to analyze differences in the prevalence and characteristics of WMH by sex, age, and history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of WMH among clinical patients with neurologic symptoms was also compared with that among participants without neurologic symptoms. Logistic regression was used to identify the patient characteristics that were the best predictors of WMH. RESULTS. The overall prevalence of WMH was 25.94% (324/1249). Most patients with WMH (85.49% [277/324]) had mild WMH, mainly in frontal and parietal subcortical white matter. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of WMH by sex (p > 0.05), but the prevalence of WMH was higher among older patients (p < 0.001) and patients with a history of CVD (p < 0.001). Compared with participants without neurologic symptoms, clinical patients with dizziness (p = 0.029) and light-headedness (p = 0.001) were more likely to have WMH, which was attributed to older age and CVD. Logistic regression analysis showed that age and CVD were the best predictors of WMH. CONCLUSION. WMH is frequently found in young clinical patients. Most WMH is the mild type and mainly located in frontal and parietal subcortical white matter. Older age and CVD are risk factors for WMH.