TABLE 1.
Comparison of baseline data stratified by the lipocalin‐2 (LCN2) quartile
| Variable | 1st quartile (n = 63) | 2nd quartile (n = 62) | 3rd quartile (n = 64) | 4th quartile (n = 64) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic characteristics | |||||
| Age (years) | 63.5 ± 15.5 | 64.1 ± 13.9 | 65.4 ± 11.4 | 68.0 ± 11.5 | .491 |
| Male, n (%) | 40 (63.5) | 40 (64.5) | 44 (68.8) | 38 (59.4) | .745 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 24.9 ± 3.2 | 24.6 ± 3.5 | 25.2 ± 3.5 | 25.0 ± 3.1 | .837 |
| Vascular risk factors, n (%) | |||||
| Hypertension | 45 (71.4) | 43 (69.4) | 42 (65.6) | 46 (71.9) | .865 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 (31.7) | 23 (37.1) | 19 (29.7) | 25 (39.1) | .650 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 8 (12.7) | 8 (12.9) | 9 (14.3) | 9 (14.1) | .993 |
| Coronary heart disease | 9 (14.3) | 6 (9.7) | 9 (14.3) | 3 (4.7) | .243 |
| Smoking | 21 (33.3) | 20 (32.3) | 28 (43.8) | 22 (34.4) | .510 |
| Clinical data | |||||
| Previous statin therapy, n (%) | 9 (14.3) | 17 (27.4) | 12 (18.8) | 10 (5.6) | .236 |
| Previous antiplatelet therapy, n (%) | 10 (15.9) | 16 (25.8) | 14 (21.9) | 14 (21.9) | .598 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 149.3 ± 26.8 | 144.7 ± 23.0 | 143.1 ± 19.6 | 147.6 ± 26.0 | .344 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 81.9 ± 15.0 | 82.4 ± 14.4 | 83.5 ± 12.0 | 84.8 ± 15.0 | .556 |
| Baseline NIHSS, score | 3.0 (2.0, 10.0) | 3.0 (2.0, 8.0) | 4.0 (2.0, 8.0) | 4.0 (2.0, 9.0) | .754 |
| Severe white matter lesions | 23 (36.5) | 32 (51.6) | 33 (51.6) | 41 (64.1) | .021 |
| Site of infarction, n (%) | .346 | ||||
| Anterior circulation | 50 (79.4) | 46 (24.2) | 56 (87.5) | 54 (84.4) | .236 |
| Posterior circulation | 14 (22.2) | 16 (25.8) | 9 (14.1) | 10 (15.6) | .295 |
| Cause of stroke, n (%) | .968 | ||||
| Atherosclerotic | 21 (33.3) | 23 (37.1) | 26 (40.6) | 26 (40.6) | |
| Cardioembolic | 10 (15.9) | 12 (19.4) | 11 (17.2) | 8 (12.5) | |
| Small vessel occlusion | 22 (34.9) | 18 (29.0) | 17 (26.6) | 22 (34.4) | |
| Others | 10 (15.9) | 9 (14.5) | 10 (15.6) | 8 (12.5) | |
| Laboratory data | |||||
| Blood urea nitrogen/creatinine | 13.9 ± 4.7 | 14.0 ± 4.5 | 12.8 ± 4.0 | 13.7 ± 4.4 | .432 |
| Homocysteine (mmol/L) | 11.5 (10.0, 14.9) | 12.9 (9.7, 15.4) | 12.7 (9.8, 16.4) | 12.4 (10.2, 16.9) | .980 |
| Baseline blood glucose (mmol/L) | 5.7 (4.9, 7.7) | 6.0 (5.0, 9.3) | 6.1 (5.0, 7.9) | 6.3 (5.0, 8.2) | .576 |
| Hs‐CRP (mg/L) | 3.2 (1.2, 7.5) | 4.3 (1.5, 10.3) | 5.3 (1.9, 9.3) | 8.8 (1.6, 14.5) | .024 |
Abbreviations: Hs‐CRP, hypersensitive C‐reactive protein; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.