Significant Rise in Hospital Admissions Linked to Cervical Artery Dissection

Recent research has revealed a dramatic increase in the number of hospitalizations in the United States due to cervical artery dissection, a condition that can lead to stroke. Over a period of 15 years, the study documented a nearly five-fold rise in cases, highlighting a pressing health concern.

Cervical artery dissection occurs when there is a tear in the artery wall in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. This condition can result in blood clots that trigger a stroke, particularly affecting individuals under the age of 50. The findings were published in the journal Neurology.

The dissection is often linked to traumatic incidents, such as motor vehicle accidents, but can also arise from less severe injuries or even activities like heavy lifting. Medical experts emphasize the urgency of diagnosing this condition promptly, as strokes related to dissections can lead to long-term disabilities and diminished quality of life. The research indicates a steady year-over-year increase in hospitalizations for cervical artery dissection.

In this study, researchers analyzed 15 years of health data from the U.S., identifying a total of 125,102 hospitalizations due to cervical artery dissection. The average age of the affected individuals was 51, with more than half experiencing a stroke concurrently with the dissection.

The demographic breakdown of the participants showed that 65% were white, 10% were Black, 8% were Hispanic, 3% were Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 14% belonged to other racial categories. By comparing hospitalization rates to U.S. Census data, researchers established the annual incidence of cervical artery dissections.

The findings revealed that the rate of dissections escalated from 11 cases per million people in 2005 to 46 cases per million by 2019, marking an average annual increase of 10%. The rise was consistent among both genders, although Hispanic individuals experienced a higher average annual increase of 16%, while Black participants saw an increase of 13%, Asian participants 12%, and white participants 8%.

Moreover, the study highlighted a significant increase among older adults aged 65 and above, with an average annual rise of 12%, compared to 8% for those under 65. Researchers speculate that factors contributing to this surge may include improved awareness of cervical artery dissection among healthcare providers, enhanced access to imaging tools for diagnosis, and an overall rise in the condition itself, the specific causes of which remain unclear.

Given the increasing incidence of cervical artery dissection, the study underscores the necessity for further research into prevention strategies and new treatment options to mitigate the risk of stroke. However, a limitation noted in the study is that the hospital admission data does not account for undiagnosed or untreated cases, suggesting that the actual number of occurrences may be even higher.