The Level of Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio Was Associated with the Severity of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack

Purpose: Inflammation plays a role in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) pathophysiology. This study aimed to explore the association of the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), a novel inflammatory marker, with CSVD burden in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Patients and methods: From October 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, continuous patients with TIA were recruited in the study. The total CSVD burden score and modified total CSVD burden score were used to assess the severity of CSVD. Multivariable regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between the FAR and CSVD in TIA patients.

Results: A total of 455 participants were recruited, of whom 225 (48.35%), according to the total CSVD burden score, and 181 (40.67%), according to the modified CSVD burden score were finally identified as moderate-severe CSVD. Spearman correlation analysis showed that levels of FAR correlated with the total CSVD (r=0.392, P<0.001) and the modified total CSVD burden scores (r=0.379, P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that FAR was independently associated with moderate-severe CSVD, both as a continuous variable and as a tertile variable (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The level of FAR on admission was independently associated with the severity of CSVD in patients with TIA.