Table 1. Patient characteristics.a .
| Characteristics | Control | TAA | TAD | p |
| (n = 12) | (n = 14) | (n = 16) | Values | |
| Age (y) | 59.1±8.2 | 64.8±5.5 | 63.8±5.6 | 0.07 |
| Men | 4 (33%) | 6 (43%) | 11 (69%) | 0.1 |
| History of smoking | 6 (50%) | 14 (100%) | 12 (75%) | 0.01 |
| Hypertension | 6 (50%) | 13 (93%) | 16 (100%) | 0.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 4 (33%) | 2 (14%) | 1 (6%) | 0.2 |
| Taking anti-lipid medication | 2 (17%) | 5 (36%) | 5 (31%) | 0.5 |
| Aortic diameter at sample site (cm) | NA | 6.4±0.9 | 6.3±1.3 | 0.9 |
a
Age and aortic diameter were compared by using one-way analysis of variance. All other variables were compared by using Pearson's chi-squared test.
NA = not applicable; TAA = thoracic aortic aneurysm; TAD = thoracic aortic dissection.