Table 4. Multivariate analysis of SVD score for outcome according to the stroke severity.

Outcomes	NIHSS score
	0–4 (n=708)	5–15 (n=298)	>15 (n=90)
All-cause mortality	1.29 (1.12–1.50)*	1.11 (0.93–1.33)	0.93 (0.68–1.29)
Fatal cardiovascular events	1.13 (0.59–2.15)	1.00 (0.52–1.91)	0.57 (0.10–3.16)
Fatal ischemic stroke	1.69 (1.19–2.40)*	1.03 (0.75–1.40)	0.63 (0.39–1.16)
Fatal hemorrhagic stroke	2.00 (1.19–3.35)*	NA	1.36 (0.29–6.37)

Values are hazard ratio (95% confidence interval). All results are represented as adjusted hazard ratio according to total SVD score (per 1 point). There was no evidence of interaction between initial stroke severity and total SVD score. Adjusted for age, sex, and variables with p value<0.1 in univariate analysis (hyperlipidemia, previous stroke, smoking, coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome, prior anti-coagulant use, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, stroke classification, thrombolytic or endovascular reperfusion therapy, and NIHSS score) for all-cause mortality. Adjusted for age, sex, and variables with p value<0.1 in univariate analysis (coronary artery disease, prior antiplatelet medication, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, and NIHSS score) for fatal cardiovascular events. Adjusted for age, sex, and variables with p value<0.1 in univariate analysis (previous stroke, smoking, metabolic syndrome, prior anti-coagulant use, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, stroke classification, thrombolytic or endovascular reperfusion therapy, and NIHSS score) for ischemic stroke mortality. Adjusted each component of SVD and total SVD score only for hemorrhagic stroke mortality.

^*p value<0.05.

NA: not applicable, NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, SVD: small-vessel disease.