RESUMEN
Objective: To observe the prevalence, image findings and risk factors of silent cerebral infarctions (SCI) in healthy subjects undergoing physical examination. Methods: A total of 1, 008 consecutive subjects, who underwent brain MRI as part of their routine health check from May 2006 to March 2010, were included in the present study. The prevalences of SCI were compared in subjects of different ages and sexes, and the imaging features of the ischemic lesions were summasized. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the association of SCI with common risk factors. Results: We identified 328 subjects who had SCI on MRI, with the prevalence being 32.5%, and we also found that 83.4% of the ischemic lesions were lacunar infarcts and mainly located in the frontal lobe, centrum semiovale, basal ganglia, and periventricular white matter. Univariate and multivasiate logistic analyses showed that the age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein α, uric acid and carotid intima-media thickness were statistically significant between SCI and non-SCI patients, and they were the independent factors of SCI. Conclusion: SCI is common in Chinese population, and more attention is needed for control of its risk factors.