Table I.

Risk characteristics and biochemical factors in both groups

Parameter	ICAO cases (n = 89)	Control (n = 89)	Value of p
Age, mean ± SD [years]	64.97 ±10.32	65.51 ±11.49	0.742
Sex (male/female)	70/19*	55/34	0.014
Hypertension, n (%)	67 (75.3)	63 (70.8)	0.501
Diabetes mellitus, n (%)	25 (28.1)	32 (35.9)	0.262
Hyperlipidaemia, n (%)	23 (25.8)	19 (21.3)	0.481
Historical stroke, n (%)	37 (41.6)	26 (29.2)	0.086
Current smokers, n (%)	48 (53.9)	37 (41.6)	0.064
Total cholesterol, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	4.77 ±0.92	4.95 ±0.92	0.202
Triacylglycerol, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	1.71 ±0.98	1.55 ±0.70	0.203
HDL cholesterol, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	0.96 ±0.25	1.03 ±0.26	0.102
LDL cholesterol, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	2.78 ±0.64*	2.97 ±0.61	0.044
Glucose, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	5.95 ±1.78	5.92 ±1.97	0.927
Hs-CRP, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	5.31 ±4.25†	2.54 ±3.32	< 0.001
ESR, mean ± SD [mm/h]	19.69 ±13.42†	13.63 ±8.90	0.001
Lactic acid, mean ± SD [mmol/l]	3.18 ±0.68†	2.82 ±0.66	< 0.001
NIHSS, mean ± SD	3.92 ±4.23	2.73 ±2.57	0.0624

Data are shown as mean ± SD, frequency as a number (%).

^*p < 0.05 for differences from control subjects.

^†p ≤ 0.001 for differences from control subjects.