Incidence and prognosis of intra-and extracranial large-artery stenosis in the rural community of Beijing

Abstract

To assess the prevalence rates of intra- and extracranial large-artery stenosis in the rural community population and its related risk to the development of stroke. The study subjects included 1337 residents in the rural community of Beijing. Transcranial Doppler was carried our to examine the relation between intra- and extracranial large-artery stenosis and subsequent cerebrovascular events, with a mean follow-up period of 16.7 months. The incidence densities of cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage in persons without cerebral large-artery stenosis were 410.6 and 351.9/100-thousand person-years, respectively. In the group with large-artery stenosis, the incidence density of cerebral infarction was 3303.7/100-thousand person-years. Data from The Fisher's Exact test showed a significant difference in the two groups (P = 0.004). Cerebral large-artery stenosis (OR = 6.593, 95%CI: 1.712 - 25.390) and smoking (OR = 8.437, 95%CI: 2.327 - 30.598) appeared to be independent risk factors to cerebral infarction. Cerebral large-artery stenosis and smoking were independent risk factors to cerebral infarction.