Dissections of the extracranial cervical arteries are
relatively rare. The combined incidence of both VAD
and CAD is estimated to be 2.6 per 100,000. However,
cervical dissections are the underlying etiology in
as many as 20% of the ischemic strokes presenting in
younger patients aged 30-45 years. Among all extracranial
cervical artery dissections, CAD is 3-5 times more common
than VAD.
Mortality/Morbidity
VAD has been associated with a 10% mortality rate in
the acute phase. Death is the result of extensive intracranial
dissection, brainstem infarction, or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Those who survive the initial crisis do remarkably well,
with long-term sequelae rare.
Sex
The female-to-male ratio is 3:1.
Age
In contrast to atherothrombotic disease of the vertebrobasilar
circulation, VAD occurs in a much younger population.
The average age is 40 years. The average age of a patient
with CAD is closer to 47 years.
