Abstract 43: Characteristics of Intracranial Cerebral Aneurysms According to the Coronary Artery Calcium

Abstract

Introduction: Several vascular risk factors are known to be associated with the presence of intracranial cerebral aneurysm. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) which reflects the atherosclerotic burden of coronary artery is a known predictor of cardiovascular event and stroke. We investigated the relationship between cerebral aneurysm and CAC. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled subjects who had both brain magnetic resonance angiography and cardiac computed tomography as part of health examinations from January 2010 to July 2017. Subjects were categorized into four groups according to the CAC score by cardiac computed tomography; none (0), low (1-99), intermediate (100-399) and high (> 400). The prevalence of cerebral aneurysm according to the CAC score groups was assessed. We also performed subgroup analysis by the sex, age and location of intracranial cerebral aneurysm. Results: Total 4934 subjects (age 54.1 ± 9.8 years, female 42.2%) were included for analysis. Cerebral aneurysms were detected in 258 subjects (5.23%). The prevalence of cerebral aneurysm was significantly increased as the CAC score increased (4.8%, 5.4%, 6.4% and 11.1%, respectively, p for trend = 0.004). This correlation was more prominent in women than in men over the age of 50 (7.1% vs 3.7, 8.8% vs 4.4%, 8.6% vs 6.3%, and 21.1% vs 10.0%, respectively). As to the aneurysm location, non-bifurcation aneurysm was more common than bifurcation aneurysm in high CAC score group (p=0.02). In multivariate analysis, the group of high CAC score had significantly more cerebral aneurysm than group of no CAC score (adjust odds ratio = 2.16, 95% confidence interval 1.18-3.95). Conclusions: CAC which reflects coronary artery atherosclerosis is also an important risk factor of intracranial cerebral aneurysm. This correlation is more prominent in female and non-bifurcation aneurysm.