To evaluate the risk factors and hospitalization outcomes for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with vasculitis. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2019. We included 26,855 adults (aged 18 to 65 years, average age 48.57 ± 12.79 years) with a co-diagnosis of vasculitis, and the sample was divided by the primary diagnosis of CVD (N = 670, 2.5%). A demographic-adjusted logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of association with CVD in patients with vasculitis by comparing it to the non-CVD cohort. ResultsThe majority of the vasculitis patients with CVD were elders (51 to 65 years, 46%), females (62%), and whites (52%). There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of CVD with vasculitis with the highest prevalence in the South Atlantic (23%) and Middle Atlantic (16%), and the lowest in the Mountain (4%) and New England (2%). Vasculitis patients with comorbid lymphoma (OR 2.46, P<0.001), peripheral vascular diseases (PVD (OR 1.54, P<0.001)), and complicated hypertension (OR 1.31, P<0.001) were associated with increasing the likelihood for CVD-related hospitalization. The mean length of stay was 13 days and the mean cost was $169,440 per CVD-related hospitalization in vasculitis patients. Cerebrovascular diseases in patients with vasculitis resulted in a major loss of body functioning (80%) leading to adverse disposition including transfer to a skilled nursing facility/intermediate care facility (22%) and requiring home health care (13%). ConclusionThe prevalence of CVD-related hospitalization in vasculitis patients was 2.5% and females were observed to be at higher risk. Comorbid lymphoma, PVD, and hypertension further increase the risk for CVD with vasculitis. They have a higher loss of functioning that affects patient quality of life and require increased care after hospital discharge.

Objectives To evaluate the demographic and comorbid risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and study the impact on hospitalization outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2019). We included 62,255 adults (age 18-65 years) with the primary diagnosis of CVD. The study sample was divided by the co-diagnosis of RAO (N=1,700). A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of association for risk factors leading to CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO, with the non-RAO cohort as the reference category. Results The majority of the CVD patients with RAO were elderly (51-65 years, 68%), females (54%), and whites (47%). Yet, demographics did not significantly impact the association with CVD hospitalization between RAO and non-RAO patients. There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of CVD hospitalizations with RAO, with the highest prevalence in the East North Central Atlantic (21%) and South Atlantic (18%) regions, and the lowest in the Mountain (4%) and East South Central (4%) regions. Comorbid diabetes with complications (69%), and complicated hypertension (55%) were most prevalent in patients with RAO thereby increasing the risk for CVD hospitalization by 7.8 (95% CI 6.9-8.8) and 1.8 times (95% CI 1.6-1.9), respectively. Patients with RAO and having major severity of illness were at increased risk of CVD hospitalization (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-3.9). Patients with RAO had a significant difference in adverse disposition, including transfer to the skilled nursing facility (SNF)/intermediate care facility (ICF) (32% vs. 24%) and requiring home health care (16% vs. 11%) compared to non-RAO patients. Conclusion The prevalence of RAO in CVD hospitalization was 2.7%, and demographics did not have any impact on the increasing risk of CVD. Comorbid diabetes (by 685%) and hypertension (by 78%) potentially increase the risk of CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO. These patients have a major severity of illness, leading to an adverse disposition. This calls for a collaborative care model to improve the quality of life in these at-risk patients with RAO.