Table 2.
Assessment of vascular burden.
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Vascular | • Two (or more) vascular risk factorsa and widespread WMC/several lacunae and/or brain imaging signs of infarction(s) |
| • One vascular risk factor with apparent brain influence (in practice TIA/stroke) and WMC/lacunae and/or signs of infarction as an expression of the cerebrovascular disease | |
| Mixed (vascular + nonvascular) | • Two vascular risk factorsa alternatively one vascular risk factor with long lasting complications and less severe but not insignificant WMC (or lacunae) or signs of infarction. Any infarction deemed contributing but not the main critical factor behind the progression of the cognitive impairment |
| Nonvascular | • One vascular risk factora without complications and insignificant WMC/few lacunae or the absence of cerebrovascular influence |
WMC, white matter changes.
a
Arterial hypertension, arterial hypotension (symptomatic), congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, cardiac dysrhythmia, myocardial infarction (also silent), transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke (also silent), hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral vascular disease (e.g., claudicatio intermittens).