Abstract 146: Renal Cysts and Stroke in the General Population: The Rotterdam Study

Abstract

Introduction: Renal cysts have been generally regarded as benign incidental findings on ultrasound or CT scan. Nevertheless, recent data suggest that such cysts might reflect early stages of end-organ damage. Given the similarities of cerebral and renal vasculatures, in this population-based study we sought to investigate whether individuals with the renal cysts have higher prevalence of cerebrovascular accidents. Methods: Between 2009 and 2014, renal ultrasound was performed on 2,984 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study (mean age: 71.9 ± 9.0 years, 57% female). Individuals who were found to have renal cysts were categorized into single and multiple cysts carriers. Stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA) cases were identified using digital record linkage with general practitioners and medical specialists in the research area. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to assess the link between single and multiple renal cysts carriers and prevalent stroke and TIAs. Results: Single renal cyst was found in 508 (17.0%) individuals and 197 (6.6%) participants had multiple cysts. Subjects with a single renal cyst compared to no cyst had 1.63 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.64) higher odds of having concomitant stroke. This association was more pronounced in individuals with multiple renal cysts. Subjects with multiple cysts had 2.14 (95% CI: 1.20, 3.82) higher odds of having stroke compared to individuals without cyst. There was no significant association between single or multiple renal cysts and TIAs; odds ratio (OR): 1.06 (95% CI: 0.70, 1.59) and OR: 1.29 (95% CI: 0.74, 2.23), respectively. All these associations were independent of age, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and kidney function. Conclusion: In this large population-based study we show that there is a dose dependent association between renal cysts and prevalent stroke. This data questions the general consensus that renal cysts are of no clinical significance as they might signal higher degrees of vascular damages in the brain circulation.