Presenter: Marissa Castillo, School of Medicine, Neurology
Authors: Marissa Castillo, Cecilia Peterson, Kevin Ngyuen, Kayla Navarro, Gauri Garg, Kaitlin McLean, Nazanin Sheibani, Varsha Muddasani,
Faculty Advisor: Adam de Havenon, School of Medicine, Neurology
Institution: University of Utah
Objective: Identify the effects and correlation of demographic altitude on white matter hyperintensity burden. Background: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is associated with cerebrovascular disease. Common risk factors associated with higher WMH burden include hypertension, hyperglycemia, smoking, and increasing age. Previous research has found individuals working as high-altitude pilots may be at increased risk of developing WMH lesions; it is thought that this is a result of episodic exposure to non-hypoxic hypobaria. However, the differential effect of living at higher altitudes on WMH burden has not been reported. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records of patients at the University of Utah Health who received vessel wall MRIs between July 2012- July 2019. Fazekas scores were measured and altitude of residence was determined using Zip Codes of the patient’s permanent residence at the time of imaging. Results: We identified over 600 unique patients with an average age of 55.915.5 years, 55.8% were female (n=335). Altitudes of patients’ permanent residence ranged from approximately 2,700 to over 7,000 feet above sea level. We will describe the relationship between living at variety of altitudes and WMH burden, as well as basic demographic data, and other radiological and clinical data that may contribute to WMH burden. Statistical analysis will be performed with adjustment for patient age, sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking status, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease and cardiac failure. Conclusion: Data may show that chronic exposure to non-hypoxic hypobaria through living at higher altitudes may contribute to overall WMH burden. As we continue to report on our findings, this research may aid in the identification of a modifiable risk-factor for overall WMH burden.