Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis in a community‐based population of Chinese adults

Background and purpose Intracranial arterial stenosis ( ICAS ) is one of the most common causes of ischaemic stroke in A sia. Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic ICAS is limited. The prevalence of ICAS was therefore investigated and its risk factors in a C hinese community‐based population were explored. Methods From 2010 to 2011, a stratified (by sex and age) random sample of 5440 participants aged 40 years or older were enrolled in the study. ICAS was assessed using t ranscranial D oppler. Logistic regression was used to evaluate potential risk factors associated with ICAS in participants. Results In total, 13.2% (95% CI 12.3–14.1) of the subjects had ICAS , and women were more likely than men to have ICAS in the 40–49 year age group. Hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 2.23, 95% CI 1.87–2.66], diabetes (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.62–2.45), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.18–2.34) and elevated high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.19–2.02) were independently associated with higher prevalence of ICAS after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking status and other covariates. Of the 716 ICAS individuals, 90.6% had one or more of these risk factors. Amongst the subjects who had at least one risk factor, 15.2% had ICAS . Conclusions Intracranial artery stenosis is common in the Chinese population. Individuals who had one or more risk factors were more likely to have ICAS , suggesting more aggressive risk factor management.