Vertebrobasilar Artery Calcification as a Risk Factor for the Development of Stroke: Case-Control Study From a Tertiary Care Center, Southern India

Background Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Many risk factors are well-established for the development of stroke. Atherosclerosis involving the media and intima layer of vertebrobasilar arteries has not been studied well as a risk factor for stroke. Objective To assess the degree of calcification of vertebrobasilar arteries among patients with stroke (cases), age- and gender-matched controls, and the risk of the development of stroke. Methods This was a hospital record-based case-control study with individuals with stroke as cases and age- and gender-matched individuals without stroke as controls, who underwent computed tomography imaging. The degree of calcification of vertebrobasilar arteries was assessed among cases and controls. Various other risk factors for the development of stroke such as the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and impaired lipid profile were also assessed. Results Among the 150 cases and their age- and gender-matched controls, the mean age of the subjects was 58.38 (±14.06) years. Forty percent of the individuals were males. Among the cases, right vertebral, left vertebral, and basilar artery calcifications were observed among 114 (76%), 102 (68%), and 52 (34.7%), respectively. Among controls, 71 (47.3%), 77 (51.3%), and 29 (19.3%) individuals had right vertebral, left vertebral, and basilar artery calcifications, respectively. The degree of calcification was higher among the cases in the right and left vertebral arteries than the controls (adjusted odds (aOR) of 6.61 and 2.32 and p-value <0.001 and 0.032, respectively). The risk of stroke increased with higher degrees of calcification, the presence of diabetes mellitus, and raised cholesterol levels (aOR of 9.98, 2.32, and 4 and p-value <0.001, 0.007, and 0.001, respectively). The risk of stroke increases with the presence of multiple risk factors. Conclusion The presence of higher grades of calcifications in the vertebrobasilar arteries is a major risk factor for stroke. Hence, its presence in asymptomatic individuals needs to be taken as a warning sign for the development of stroke.