Silent Brain Infarction and Risk of Future Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

TitleSilent Brain Infarction and Risk of Future Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsGupta A, Giambrone AE, Gialdini G, Finn C, Delgado D, Gutierrez J, Wright C, Beiser AS, Seshadri S, Pandya A, Kamel H
JournalStroke
Volume47
Issue3
Pagination719-25
Date Published2016 Mar
ISSN1524-4628
KeywordsBrain Infarction, Forecasting, Humans, Observational Studies as Topic, Risk Factors, Stroke
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Silent brain infarction (SBI) on magnetic resonance imaging has been proposed as a subclinical risk marker for future symptomatic stroke. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the association between magnetic resonance imaging-defined SBI and future stroke risk.

METHODS: We searched the medical literature to identify cohort studies involving adults with SBI detected by magnetic resonance imaging who were subsequently followed up for incident clinically defined stroke. Study data and quality assessment were recorded in duplicate with disagreements in data extraction resolved by a third reader. Strength association between magnetic resonance imaging-detected SBI and future symptomatic stroke was measured by an hazard ratio.

RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 13 studies (14 764 subjects) with a mean follow-up ranging from 25.7 to 174 months. SBI predicted the occurrence of stroke with a random effects crude relative risk of 2.94 (95% confidence interval, 2.24-3.86, P<0.001; Q=39.65, P<0.001). In the 8 studies of 10 427 subjects providing hazard ratio adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, SBI was an independent predictor of incident stroke (hazard ratio, 2.08 [95% confidence interval, 1.69-2.56; P<0.001]; Q=8.99; P=0.25). In a subgroup analysis pooling 9483 stroke-free individuals from large population-based studies, SBI was present in ≈18% of participants and remained a strong predictor of future stroke (hazard ratio, 2.06 [95% confidence interval, 1.64-2.59]; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: SBI is present in ≈1 in 5 stroke-free older adults and is associated with a 2-fold increased risk of future stroke. Future studies of in-depth stroke risk evaluations and intensive prevention measures are warranted in patients with clinically unrecognized radiologically evident brain infarctions.

DOI10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011889
Alternate JournalStroke
PubMed ID26888534
PubMed Central IDPMC4766016
Grant ListR01 NS017950 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R37 NS029993 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG008122 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 NS029993 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
K23 NS082367 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States