Relationship Between Cerebrovascular Diseases and Vasculitis: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Inpatient Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rheumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vasculitis is a group of inflammatory conditions affecting blood vessels.
• Cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) pose significant health risks.
• Understanding CVD risk factors in vasculitis patients is crucial for management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in patients diagnosed with vasculitis.
• To assess hospitalization outcomes associated with CVD in the vasculitis population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing the 2019 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).
• Included 26,855 adult patients with a vasculitis diagnosis.
• Analyzed 670 patients with a primary diagnosis of CVD using logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of CVD-related hospitalization in vasculitis patients was 2.5%; females were at higher risk.
• Comorbidities including lymphoma, peripheral vascular diseases (PVD), and complicated hypertension significantly increased CVD hospitalization likelihood.
• Hospitalizations involved extended stays (13 days), high costs ($169,440), significant functional loss (80%), and increased need for post-discharge care.

Conclusions:

• Females with vasculitis face a higher risk of cerebrovascular disease hospitalizations.
• Lymphoma, PVD, and hypertension are key risk factors exacerbating CVD risk in vasculitis patients.
• CVD in vasculitis patients leads to substantial functional impairment, impacting quality of life and necessitating intensive post-hospital care.