Risk of macrovascular events among patients with ICD-defined neuromyelitis optica in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND

An elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cerebrovascular disease (CBD) has been observed in patients with ICD-defined Neuromyelitis Optica (hereinafter referred to as NMO). However, population-based research on this topic remains limited. In this study, the risk of macrovascular events was compared between individuals with NMO and a matched population without NMO in Taiwan.

METHODS

Data for this retrospective cohort study were collected from a nationwide database in Taiwan. A total of 1,376 patients with new-onset NMO between 2003 to 2020 were enrolled. A Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to investigate CVD and CBD risk in patients with NMO and controlled for relevant variables.

RESULTS

After relevant variables were controlled for, patients with NMO exhibited a significantly higher risk of CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-1.77) and CBD (aHR = 3.37; 95% CI = 2.69-4.22) than matched controls. Significant associations were observed between NMO and ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and transient ischemic attack but not acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, or heart failure.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with NMO exhibited an elevated risk of CBD. Conversely, NMO was not associated with an elevated risk of certain CVDs.