Key result
Higher CVD risk factor burden is linked to ~87% higher dementia risk in established CVD.
Why the study?
The relationship between cardiovascular disease risk factor burden and the number of affected vascular beds with the risk of dementia in individuals with established CVD required determination.
Does a higher cardiovascular disease risk factor burden and greater number of affected vascular beds increase the risk of all-cause dementia in individuals with established cardiovascular disease?
Cohort (n=10,321)
No
Does a higher cardiovascular disease risk factor burden and greater number of affected vascular beds increase the risk of all-cause dementia in individuals with established cardiovascular disease?
In patients with established cardiovascular disease, both a higher burden of traditional risk factors and polyvascular bed involvement are independently associated with an elevated long-term risk of developing all-cause dementia.
Aim To determine how cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor burden and the number of affected vascular beds relate to the risk of dementia in individuals with established CVD. Methods Participants were from the prospective, single-center UCC-SMART cohort study, recruited between 1996-2024. CVD risk factor burden was defined as the number of traditional CVD risk factors present. The number of affected vascular beds was the count of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. Relations with all-cause dementia were estimated with Cox regression adjusted for confounding factors. Results 10,321 participants (mean age 61±10 years; 27% female) were included, of whom 6,480 (63%) had coronary artery disease, 3,378 (33%) had cerebrovascular disease, and 2,681 (26%) had peripheral artery disease. During a median follow-up of 10.1 years (IQR: 5.0-15.7), 296 (2.9%) dementia cases were identified. Dementia risk increased with higher CVD risk factor burden; hazard ratios compared to participants with 0-1 risk factors were 1.35 (95% CI: 0.95-1.92) for participants with 2 risk factors, 1.58 (95% CI: 1.10-2.26) for participants with 3 risk factors, and 1.87 (95% CI: 1.31-2.67) for participants with 4-9 risk factors. Compared to participants with 1 affected vascular bed, participants with 2 or 3 affected vascular beds had a higher dementia risk, with hazard ratios of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.02-1.71) and 1.90 (95% CI: 1.05-3.43), respectively. Conclusion Higher CVD risk factor burden and higher number of affected vascular beds are related to increased dementia risk in individuals with established CVD. These findings underscore the importance of stringent cardiovascular risk management as a potential strategy to lower dementia risk in this population.afbeelding1.jpgafbeelding2.jpg
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Leijer et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Established cardiovascular disease (coronary artery, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease) (n=10,321). Higher CVD risk factor burden (4-9 risk factors) and polyvascular bed involvement (2-3 affected beds) vs. 0-1 CVD risk factors or 1 affected vascular bed was evaluated on All-cause dementia (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.31-2.67). Higher CVD risk factor burden (4-9 vs 0-1: HR 1.87; 95% CI 1.31-2.67) and 3 vs 1 affected vascular beds (HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.05-3.43) increased all-cause dementia risk in patients with established CVD.
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