Incompleteness of the circle of Willis affects sleep quality, cognitive function and inflammation in patients with primary hypertension.

Abstract

To investigate whether incomplete Circle of Willis (Incomplete CoW) affects neuropsychological outcomes in patients with primary hypertension, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 150 patients diagnosed with primary hypertension, a population at increased risk for neurovascular compromise. Magnetic Resonance Angiography was used to classify patients into two groups: Complete CoW (n = 41) and Incomplete CoW (n = 85). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). PSQI scores were significantly higher in the Incomplete CoW group compared to the Complete CoW group, indicating poorer sleep quality in patients with an Incomplete CoW. A significant negative correlation was found between PSQI and MMSE scores in the Incomplete CoW group, linking poor sleep quality with cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that the incompleteness of the CoW may contribute to neuropsychological impairments in patients with hypertension, potentially mediated by enhanced inflammatory responses. DATA AVAILABILITY: The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.