Lower pulmonary function and cerebral subclinical abnormalities detected by MRI: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between pulmonary function and (1) cerebral infarction and (2) white matter lesions (WMLs), identified by MRI and believed to represent subclinical lesions of arteriosclerosis, generalized hypoperfusion, or ischemia of the brain.


METHODS
Population-based, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Two communities in the United States.


METHODS
A sample of 1,917 African-American and white men and women 55 to 72 years old who were selected from the second follow-up examination of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort.


METHODS
Observational study.


RESULTS
The lung function indexes, FEV1 and FVC, were assessed according to American Thoracic Society criteria. Subclinical cerebral infarction and WMLs were assessed by MRI. After adjusting for age, ethnicity, gender, height, and height squared, a 1-SD decrease of FEV1 in nonsmokers was associated with odds ratios (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 2.03) of 1.63 for infarction and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.69) for WMLs. Of those in the lowest quartile of FEV1, 15% had infarction and WMLs, in contrast to 6% of the individuals in the uppermost quartile of FEV1. Consistent associations were also observed by using FVC as an index of pulmonary function. Similar patterns of association were found among current smokers. The associations were not altered by additional adjustment of conventional risk factors of cardiovascular disease, comorbidity, or cognitive function.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this population-based study suggest that lower pulmonary function is associated with subclinical cerebral abnormalities.
Liao
D
D
Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033, USA. DLiao@psu.edu
Higgins
M
M
Bryan
N R
NR
Eigenbrodt
M L
ML
Chambless
L E
LE
Lamar
V
V
Burke
G L
GL
Heiss
G
G
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology