[Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular cognitive impairment (2024 edition)].

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) refers to cognitive dysfunction primarily caused by cerebrovascular pathologies and their associated risk factors. It is the second leading cause of dementia in individuals aged 60 and older in China. Currently, there are no specific treatments for VCI, but early identification and prevention can help reduce the risk of onset and improve patient prognosis. To raise awareness and attention among clinicians towards VCI and provide guidance for its standardized management, the Chinese Stroke Association Vascular Cognitive Impairment Subcommittee updated and revised the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Cognitive Impairment in China (2019). These updates include clinical classification, diagnostic procedures, neuropsychological assessment standards, and imaging evaluation standards. Through a systematic literature review, including meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trials, retrospective studies, case-control studies, and more, evidence and recommendation levels were developed according to the standards of evidence-based medicine. Recommendations were provided on the etiology and clinical subtypes, diagnostic criteria, prevention, and treatment of VCI. A standardized diagnostic workflow for VCI tailored to the clinical context in China was proposed, aimed at providing guidance for the standardized diagnosis and accurate treatment of VCI.