Abstract WP197: The Association Between Atherosclerotic Disease And Cervical Artery Dissection In A Large Population-based Cohort Of Older People

Introduction: While well-established risk factors for cervical artery dissection include trauma and connective tissue disorders, many cases are considered “spontaneous.” Although the incidence of cervical artery dissection is greatest in the young, the prevalence increases with age, suggesting a potential role of vascular disease. In this study, we hypothesized that atherosclerosis may be a risk factor for cervical artery dissection. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries between 2008 and 2018. The exposures of interest were vascular risk factors potentially associated with atherosclerosis including coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of cervical artery dissection. Marginal structural Cox models were used to characterize the association between the exposures and outcomes, adjusted for time-dependent confounding, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and prior stroke. Results: Among 2,256,826 eligible Medicare beneficiaries, 1,527 (0.07%) developed cervical artery dissection, with a mean age of 70.8, compared to 71.5 in those without cervical artery dissection. The following exposures were found to be significantly associated with the development of cervical artery dissection: coronary artery disease (1.81 [1.63-2.01]), hyperlipidemia (1.84 [1.61-2.11]), hypertension (2.04 [1.76-2.37]), diabetes mellitus (1.34 [1.21-1.49]), heart failure (1.44 [1.25-1.67]), chronic kidney disease (1.38 [1.20-1.59]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.3 [1.16-1.46]), valvular heart disease (1.81 [1.60-2.04]), atrial fibrillation (HR 1.75 [95% CI 1.54-1.98]), tobacco use (1.84 [1.57-2.15]), and alcohol abuse (1.84 [1.56-2.16]). Conclusion: In a large population-based cohort of older people, atherosclerotic risk factors were associated with subsequent cervical artery dissection. Further studies exploring the role of atherosclerosis in the development of cervical artery dissection are required.