title: Relation between cardiovascular disease risk markers and brain infarcts detected by magnetic resonance imaging in an elderly population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Established cardiovascular risk markers, such as hypertension, are associated with increased risk of brain infarcts. The newer markers N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, troponin I, C-reactive protein, and cystatin C may affect the risk of cardiovascular events and potentially, thereby, also stroke. We investigated the association between established and new risk markers for cardiovascular disease and brain infarcts detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at age 75.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred six randomly selected subjects from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors study were examined with MRI of the brain at age 75. Blood samples, measurements, and dedicated questionnaires at age 70 were used for analysis of risk markers. A history of diseases had been obtained at age 70 and 75. MRI was evaluated regarding lacunar and cortical infarcts. Univariate associations between outcomes and risk markers were assessed with logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One or more infarcts were seen in 23% of the subjects (20% had only lacunar infarcts, 1% had only cortical infarcts, and 2% had both). Hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4, 4.7) and obesity (OR 1.3; CI 1.0, 1.8) were significantly associated with increased risk of brain infarction. The newer risk markers were not significantly associated with the brain infarcts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new markers were not associated with the predominantly lacunar infarcts in our 75-year-old population, why troponin I and NT-proBNP may be associated mainly with cardioembolic infarcts as shown recently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ruta.nylander@radiol.uu.se.
authors.forename: Ruta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nylander
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Uppsala Clinical Research Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venge
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; School of Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ärnlöv
authors.affiliation: Uppsala Clinical Research Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahlström
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elna-Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Magnetic resonance; hypertension; lacunar infarctions; risk factors; stroke