Fecal occult blood is associated with an increased risk of cerebral small vessel disease in elderly patients

Background and purpose

Studies have shown that fecal occult blood is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, but the relationship between fecal occult blood and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to identify predictors for CSVD, with fecal occult blood and its proxies as potential influencing factors in elderly patients.

Method

Patients aged 65 years or older with various chronic diseases were enrolled. The presence of CSVD was evaluated by brain MRI results. Fecal occult blood was measured by fecal immunochemical test. Logistic regression analysis was used for the association between the presence of fecal occult blood and the risk of CSVD.

Results

Logistic regression analysis indicated that a prevalence of positive fecal occult blood was related to CSVD (Model 1, adjusted OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15–2.29, P = 0.006). We subsequently grouped all subjects as positive fecal occult blood (259, 16.48%) and negative fecal occult blood (1313, 83.52%), and logistic regression analysis indicated that a prevalence of CSVD was related to positive fecal occult blood (Model 2, adjusted OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.08–2.08, P = 0.015). In addition, the ratios of lacunes (67.18% vs. 53.85%, P < 0.001) and enlarged perivascular spaces (43.63% vs. 34.42%, P = 0.005) were higher in patients with positive fecal occult blood than in controls.

Conclusions

The presence of fecal occult blood is probably related to the risk of CSVD in elderly patients and could be used as a screening tool for CSVD in elderly populations.