Risk factors for intracranial aneurysm in a Chinese ethnic population

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2006-08, Vol.119 (16), p.1359-1364
• Main Authors: Gu, Yu-xiang, Chen, Xian-cheng, Song, Dong-lei, Leng, Bing, Zhao, Fan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atherosclerosis - complications; China - ethnology; Female; Humans; Hypertension - complications; Intracranial Aneurysm - etiology; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; 发病因素; 颅内动脉瘤
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.1097/00029330-200608020-00008

Background Intracranial aneurysm （IAN） is a protruding bubble or a sac on a brain artery that balloons out over time, which may lead to spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage （SAH）, ultimately disability and mortality. Current research indicates that the disease is due to multiple causes, including environmental factors and various congenital abnormalities of blood vessels. Apart from congenital predisposition, various high-risk factors such as sex, age, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are involved in the formation of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the formation of sporadic intracranial aneurysms in Chinese Hart ethnic patients. Methods A total of 251 patients with intracranial aneurysm and 338 patients with other cerebral diseases （control group） were enrolled in this study. Single factor and logistic regression model were used to analyze the association of intracranial aneurysms with age; sex; cigarette smoking; alcohol or cocaine consumption; history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and inherited connective tissue disease; and the levels of fasting blood glucose and blood fat. The data expressed as mean ± standard deviation were processed with the statistical software SPSS 13. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed by the independent-sample t test, and the chi-square test respectively. Logistic regression method was used to analyze the multiple factors. Results In the 251 patients, 163 （64.94%） were at age of 40 to 60 years. Sex （OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01 --1.96）, cigarette smoking （OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.06--3.10）, hypertension （OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.30--4.16） and fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm （P〈0.05）. Intracranial aneurysm was correlated with alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease, and the level of blood lipids （P〉0.05）. Using logistic regression analysis, we identified female sex and advanced age as significant risk factors for sporadic intracranial aneurysms. Conclusions Sporadic intracranial aneurysms mostly occur in people aged 40 to 60 years. Feminine, cigarette smoking, and hypertension are independent risk factors for the disease, and the gender is the most significant factor. Advanced age can increase the effect of these risk factors.