Abstract P449: The Impact of Race and Social Determinants of Health on Imaging Biomarkers in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract

Introduction: The association between race and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is controversial. We examined the relationship between race and social determinants of health with WMH and microbleeds in ICH. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients at a tertiary care hospital between 2013 and 2020 who presented with ICH and underwent MRI of the brain. MRIs were evaluated for the presence of microbleeds and WMH severity (defined by the Fazekas scale; severe WMH defined as Fazekas 3). We assessed for an association of sex, race, ethnicity, employment status, median household income by zip code, education level, and insurance status with the severity of WMH or presence of microbleeds. Results: We identified 105 patients (median age 65.5 (IQR 53-76); 51% females; 13.2% Black) with ICH who had an MRI of the brain. Median ICH score was 1 [IQR 0-2] and median hematoma size was 15.9 ml (SD 19.7). High school graduation was the highest education level in 13.2%, and 57.5% had private insurance. Median income by zip code was $87,667 (IQR $65,900-$117,923). Severe WMH was observed in 19.8% and 52.8% of patients had microbleeds. There was no significant difference in sex, insurance status or median income for patients with or without severe WMH nor those with or without microbleeds. Severe WMH was more common among older patients (p=0.001), Black patients (p=0.03), patients with hypertension (p=0.03), and those with lower levels of education (p=0.03). In multivariable analyses, Black race was associated with severe WMH when adjusting for age and history of hypertension (OR 6.13 95% CI 1.14-25.98, p=0.01) but the effect size attenuated and the association disappears when adding education level to the model (OR 3.38 95% CI 0.48-23.76, p = 0.2). Age and history of hypertension were associated with presence of microbleeds (p<0.01 for both), but there was no association between presence of microbleeds and Black race or education level. Conclusion: Although Black race was associated with severe WMH, this association did not remain after adjusting for level of education. Our findings suggest that social determinants of health can modify the association between race and imaging biomarkers of ICH.