A EUROpean Randomized Study on Blood-thinners and Cholesterol-lowering Treatments to Prevent Future Vascular Events in People With Covert Brain Infarcts (CBI)

Exclusion Criteria

• •History of stroke/TIA
• •High risk of bleeding (e.g., recent or recurrent gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding associated with a decrease in hemoglobin levels of at least 1 mmol/L, active peptic ulcer disease, MRI with cortical siderosis and/or prior lobar hemorrhage)
• •Indication for long-term use of anticoagulants (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, and rarer indications; such as mechanical heart valve, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome etc.)
• •Concurrent indication for lipid-lowering treatment and/or platelet-inhibitors for secondary cardiovascular prevention (ischemic heart disease, recent stenting, ischemic stroke, revascularization surgeries, lower-extremity atherosclerotic arterial disease etc.)
• •Co-existing progressive neurodegenerative disease including dementia or Parkinson's disease.
• •Neoplastic condition that is uncontrolled or associated with an increased risk of bleeding
• •Patient already on antiplatelet or anticoagulation agent, regardless of indication
• •Women with a history of menopause below 12 months are only included after negative pregnancy test