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White matter changes, duration of hypertension, and age are associated with cerebral microbleeds in patients with different stages of hypertension.

Background
We aimed to investigate risk factors for the presence and number of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with different stages of hypertension stages, with an emphasis on the relationship between white matter changes (WMCs) and CMBs.


Methods
Since 2016, participants aged 40 years or more have been evaluated for the presence of CMBs using enhanced 3D multiecho GE T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN) sequences. The Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson χ2 test were used to compare the clinical characteristics between the CMB and no-CMB patient groups. Furthermore, we used Spearman's rank correlation analysis to examine the associations between the degree of CMB severity and other important factors.


Results
CMBs were detected in 110 (36.7%) of 300 participants. Among patients with stage 2 hypertension, the majority also had CMBs (61.8%, 68/110). CMBs were positively correlated with age, hypertension stage, duration of hypertension, WMCs, and silent cerebral infarction. Patients with grade 3 WMCs were significantly more likely to have CMBs than those without WMCs; this association was true for both patients with stage 1 and those with stage 2 hypertension. In patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension lasting longer than 20 years, the majority had CMBs (69.0%, 29/42; 69.1%, 47/68). The results of binary logistic regression indicated that a more severe hypertension stage, longer duration of hypertension, aging, having silent cerebral infarction and higher values of WMC increase the likelihood of the occurrence of CMBs.


Conclusions
CMBs detected in hypertensive patients were more likely to occur in deep structures, and the grade of WMCs and duration of hypertension were more closely associated with the CMB degree than with age.