Table 1. Characteristics of included studies.

1st author, year	Region	Characteristics of the included studies
		Ischemic stroke group	Control group
Li C, 2012	Shandong	N = 440, Age: 66.6±8.4 years, Male: 66.1%, ischemic stroke (LAA, SVO, CE)	N = 486, Age: 66.1±5.2 years, Male: 64.6%
Wang HM, 2012	Zhejiang	N = 235, Age: 61.3±10.1 years, Male: 60.9%, atherothrombotic ischemic stroke	N = 105, Age: 60.0±9.4 years, Male: 57.1%
Cheng H, 2011	Jiangsu	N = 280, Age: 59.6±12.4 years, Male: 62.9%, lacunar stroke	N = 258, Age: 58.4±13.6 years, Male: 60.5%
Li N, 2010	Liaoning	N = 371, Age: 63.9±7.4 years, Male: 62.0%, ischemic stroke	N = 371, Age: 62.9±7.6 years, Male: 66.6%
Sun Y, 2009	Shanghai	N = 649, Age: 73.2±9.4 years, Male: 56%, ischemic stroke (LAA+CE, SVO)	N = 761, Age: 73.3±7.3 years, Male: 55%
Xue H, 2009	Shanxi, Chongqing,Beijing, Tianjin	N = 424, No description of age and gender, ischemic stroke (LAA, SVO)	N = 887, Age: 60.7±8.2 years, Male: 57.6%
Zhang HL, 2009	Heilongjiang	N = 60, No description of age and gender, ischemic stroke (LAA, SVO)	N = 44, Age: 58.6±17.6 years, Male: 47.7%
Xu SL, 2008	Jiangsu	N = 116, Age: 65.9±12.4 years, Male: 60.3%, ischemic stroke (LAA, SVO)	N = 110, Age: 65.1±12.7 years, Male: 54.5%
Lin HF, 2007	Taiwan	N = 190, No description of age and gender, early onset ischemic stroke	N = 211, No description of age and gender

Abbreviations: LAA: large-artery atherosclerosis; SVO: small-vessel occlusion; CE: cardioembolism.