Revised diagnostic criteria for Vascular Cognitive Disorders: the VASCOG‐2 criteria

Background Several sets of diagnostic criteria have been published for vascular cognitive disorders (VCD) since the 1960s. The International Society for Vascular Behavioral and Cognitive Disorders (VASCOG) working group published a comprehensive and operationalized criteria set in 2014. Considering the significant developments in the field in the last decade, an international expert group was commissioned to revise these criteria using the Delphi process. Methods A modified Delphi consensus method was used, involving an iterative, multi‐staged series of structured surveys with feedback of anonymized responses from experts in the fields of cerebrovascular disease and dementia. Three rounds were planned, with the possibility of a fourth round, if required to reach consensus. Literature reviews on topics related to the criteria were conducted by a team of researchers, which informed the first structured questionnaire. Each salient point in the criteria was put to consensus, and relevant recent reviews and publications provided for background information. Consensus was defined as agreement or disagreement on any statement of ≥ 75%, near consensus as 66 – 75%, and