Evaluation of Microvascular Rarefaction in Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Heart Failure (CRUCIAL): Study Protocol for an Observational Study
Abstract Introduction: Microvascular rarefaction, the functional reduction in perfused microvessels and structural reduction of microvascular density, seems to be an important mechanism in the pathophysiology of small blood vessel-related disorders including vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) due to cerebral small vessel disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Both diseases share common risk factors including hypertension, diabetes mellitus,…