Associations between enlarged perivascular spaces and clinical manifestations: a meta-analysis

16/10/2026

AI Summary

Enlarged perivascular spaces are associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment, motor impairment, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms.
No significant association was found between enlarged perivascular spaces and stroke occurrence (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.21).
Basal ganglia enlarged perivascular spaces show stronger associations with cognitive impairment (OR 2.19) and sleep disturbance (OR 1.74).

TL;DR (AI Generated)

We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the clinical outcomes associated with EPVS.

EPVS were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.39-1.81), motor impairment (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.22-3.25), sleep disturbance (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.34-2.28), and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-1.95), but was not significantly associated with the occurrence of stroke (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.74-1.21).

Results of subgroup analysis showed that basal ganglia (BG) EPVS were more strongly associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.72-2.65) and sleep disturbance (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.29).

Basic summary

Arch Med Sci. 2022 Sep 9;22(4):2025-2037. doi: 10.5114/aoms/152945. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are ubiquitous in the elderly and have an insidious onset. Their correlation with clinical symptoms is easily overlooked and controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the clinical outcomes associated with EPVS.

METHODS: Relevant studies published up to April 2022 were extracted from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, OVID, and Web of Science. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of the associations.

RESULTS: Of the 6622 articles identified, 32 studies were eligible, including a total of 19,987 people. EPVS were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.39-1.81), motor impairment (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.22-3.25), sleep disturbance (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.34-2.28), and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-1.95), but was not significantly associated with the occurrence of stroke (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.74-1.21). Results of subgroup analysis showed that basal ganglia (BG) EPVS were more strongly associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.72-2.65) and sleep disturbance (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.29).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that EPVS are associated with cognitive impairment, motor impairment, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms. These findings may provide a basis for further investigation of the clinical significance of EPVS.

PMID:42877714 | PMC:PMC13663648 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/152945

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