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Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease and Atrial Fibrillation in Relation to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden
Oluchi Stella Ekenze, Adlin Pinheiro, Alexa S. Beiser, Vasileios‐Arsenios Lioutas, Hugo Javier Aparicio, Emelia J. Benjamin, Ramachandran Srini Vasan, Charles S DeCarli et al.. Brain Sciences, 2025-07-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
In 3413 participants (mean age: 59 ± 14 years, 53.4% women), 11% had prevalent CVD or AF, 8% had prevalent CVD, and 4% had prevalent AF. One CSVD marker was seen in 23% participants, and 9% had ≥ 2 markers. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, composite prevalent CVD and AF was associated with the presence of one CSVD marker (OR: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.84). The association with ≥2 CSVD markers was not significant. Only CMBs were associated with components of CVD and AF, with the highest odds of association with HF. Prevalent CVD (including AF) is associated with the presence of CSVD, with all components associated with CMBs.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ekenze, O. S., Pinheiro, A., Beiser, A. S., Lioutas, V., Aparicio, H. J., Benjamin, E. J., et al. (2025). Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease and Atrial Fibrillation in Relation to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden. Brain Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15080813
Vancouver
Ekenze OS, Pinheiro A, Beiser AS, Lioutas V, Aparicio HJ, Benjamin EJ, et al. Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease and Atrial Fibrillation in Relation to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden. Brain Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/brainsci15080813. PMID: 40867146.
BibTeX
@article{ekenze2025-40867146,
author = {Ekenze, Oluchi Stella and Pinheiro, Adlin and Beiser, Alexa S. and Lioutas, Vasileios‐Arsenios and Aparicio, Hugo Javier and Benjamin, Emelia J. and Vasan, Ramachandran Srini and DeCarli, Charles S and others},
title = {{Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease and Atrial Fibrillation in Relation to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden}},
journal = {Brain Sciences},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/brainsci15080813},
pmid = {40867146},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15080813}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- In 3413 participants (mean age: 59 ± 14 years, 53.4% women), 11% had prevalent CVD or AF, 8% had prevalent CVD, and 4% had prevalent AF.
- One CSVD marker was seen in 23% participants, and 9% had ≥ 2 markers.
- In multivariable-adjusted analyses, composite prevalent CVD and AF was associated with the presence of one CSVD marker (OR: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.84).
- The association with ≥2 CSVD markers was not significant.
- Only CMBs were associated with components of CVD and AF, with the highest odds of association with HF.
Why it matters
In this study of 3413 participants, having prevalent cardiovascular disease or atrial fibrillation was associated with the presence of one cerebral small vessel disease marker, but the association with two or more markers was not significant. Only cerebral microbleeds were associated with components of cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation, and the study does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Participants3,413
- Effect size53.4%; OR: 1.38
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Brain Sciences: journal h-index 115 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 3,413 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jose Rafael Romero: h-index 68 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40867146) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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