Disparities in the symptomatic presentation of Moyamoya disease in the United States: A nationwide all-payer analysis

Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass for Moyamoya Disease: The Influence of Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities on Outcomes - A National Inpatient Sample Analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass is an established therapeutic option for Moyamoya disease (MMD). However, little is known about the effects of racial and ethnic disparities on outcomes. This study assessed trends in EC-IC bypass outcomes among MMD patients stratified by race and ethnicity.

METHODS

Utilizing the US National Inpatient Sample, we identified MMD patients undergoing EC-IC bypass between 2002 and 2020. Demographic and hospital-level data were collected. Multivariable analysis was conducted to identify independent factors associated with outcomes. Trend analysis was performed using piecewise joinpoint regression.

RESULTS

Out of 14,062 patients with MMD, 1771 underwent EC-IC bypass. Of these, 60.59% were White, 17.56% were Black, 12.36% were Asians, 8.47% were Hispanic, and 1.02% were Native Americans. Nonhome discharge was noted in 21.7% of cases, with a 6.7% death and 3.8% postoperative neurologic complications rates. EC-IC bypass was more commonly performed in Native Americans (23.38%) and Asians (17.76%). Hispanics had the longest mean length of stay (8.4 days) and lower odds of nonhome discharge compared to Whites (odds ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-1.03; P = 0.04). Patients with Medicaid, private insurance, self-payers, and insurance paid by other governments had lower odds of nonhome discharge than those with Medicare.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights racial and socioeconomic disparities in EC-IC bypass for patients with MMD. Despite these disparities, we did not find any significant difference in the quality of care. Addressing these disparities is essential for optimizing MMD outcomes.

Predictive Factors for Seizures after Revascularization in Patients with Moyamoya Disease

BACKGROUND

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder that is diagnosed through imaging studies, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imagin, which show progressive narrowing of the terminal portion of the internal carotid arteries and the development of compensatory capillary collaterals. The objective of our study was to identify and clarify the predictive factors for seizures in patients with MMD.

METHODS

From January 2019 to March 2023, a total of 102 patients with MMD were enrolled in this study. Ten patients with seizures after surgery as the main presentation were included. Patients with epilepsy were compared to those without epilepsy in terms of their clinical characteristics. Multivariable analysis was applied to determine factors linked with postoperative seizures.

RESULTS

Ten patients developed seizures after revascularization for MMD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that early seizure (odds ratio [OR], 0.068; 95% CI, 0.014-0.342; P = 0.001), cortical involvement (OR, 9.593; 95% CI, 2.256-40.783; P = 0.002), and postoperative hyperperfusion (OR, 7.417; 95% CI, 1.077-51.093; P = 0.042) were significantly associated with seizures. In a multivariate analysis, it was found that early seizures were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing seizures (OR, 5.88; 95% CI, 1.01-33.96; P = 0.048), while patients who had seizures were more likely to have cortical involvement (OR, 8.90; 95% CI, 1.55-50.96; P = 0.014) or postoperative hyperperfusion (OR, 12.44; 95% CI, 1.21-127.74; P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Epilepsy in patients with MMD link with several clinical factors. In patients with MMD who undergo bypass surgery, early seizures, cortical involvement, and postoperative hyperperfusion are significant independent predictive factors for the development of epilepsy.

Seizures, Epilepsy, and Electroencephalography Findings in Pediatric Moyamoya Arteriopathy: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Although seizures are known to occur in children with moyamoya arteriopathy, data regarding characteristics, prevalence, and predictive factors for their development are less established. This study aimed to systematically review literature addressing seizures, epilepsy, and electroencephalography findings in the pediatric moyamoya population.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed by searching PubMed and Ovid:Embase databases for articles that described seizures, epilepsy, and electroencephalography findings in patients aged 0 to 21 years with moyamoya arteriopathy.

RESULTS

The search yielded 43 total articles that addressed the following topics in childhood moyamoya: seizures as the presenting symptom, epilepsy characteristics and management, characteristic electroencephalography findings including rebuildup with discussion of proposed mechanisms, and potential predictive clinical factors for the development of seizures preoperatively and the persistence of epilepsy postoperatively. In the reviewed literature, 9% to 19% of children with moyamoya had epilepsy, with over half of the cases lacking radiographic evidence of ischemia. Young age was the most consistent clinical factor associated with both seizures as the presenting symptom and with moyamoya-related epilepsy. Multiple studies report that seizures, electroencephalographic background abnormalities, and the rebuildup phenomenon improve after successful revascularization surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review provides a thorough investigation of the literature available to date on the clinical features of seizures in the pediatric moyamoya population. Literature on this topic is scarce and further studies assessing predictive factors for the development of epilepsy, prognosis as a result of having seizures, and seizure management in this population will help to fill existing knowledge gaps.

The relationship between hemoglobin and triglycerides in moyamoya disease: A cross-sectional study

Hemoglobin (Hb) and lipid metabolism are critical in the pathophysiology of moyamoya disease (MMD), and Hb and triglycerides (TGs) both play roles in the development of cerebrovascular illness. However, there is little evidence of a link between Hb and TGs in patients with MMD. This study aimed to determine the association between Hb and TGs in patients who had recently been diagnosed with MMD. From March 2013 to December 2018, 337 patients clinically diagnosed with MMD were admitted to our hospital. Among these, 235 were selected for analysis in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Each patient's clinical features were documented. For analysis, we used univariate analysis, smoothed-curve fitting, and multivariable, piecewise linear regression. Overall, the mean±standard deviation patient age was 48.14 ± 11.24 years, 44.68% were men, and the mean Hb concentration was 135.72 ± 18.99 g/L. After controlling for relevant confounders, smoothed-curve fitting revealed a nonlinear association between the Hb and TG concentrations (P = 0.0448). When the Hb concentration was below 141 g/L, multivariate piecewise linear regression analysis revealed a significant association between the Hb and TG concentrations [β: 0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00, 0.01; P = 0.0182], although the association disappeared above this threshold (β:−0.00, 95% CI:−0.01, 0.01; P = 0.4429). In individuals newly diagnosed with MMD, there is a significant correlation between Hb and TGs, which may be connected to MMD pathogenesis.