Table 2. Baseline characteristics and CEC count for the three comparison groups.
| Subject Factor | HC | CSA | UA | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N (%) | 15 (21.4) | 16 (22.9) | 39 (55.7) | — |
| Age | 60.8 (7.0) | 63.3 (8.1) | 65.2 (9.1) | 0.353 |
| Body mass index | 25.9 (3.7) | 27.3 (4.1) | 26.7 (4.6) | 0.513 |
| Heart rate/minute | 72.8 (10.3) | 75.6 (13.8) | 81.1 (19.3) | 0.312 |
| Males, n (%) | 8 (53.3) | 9 (56.3) | 21 (53.8) | 0.869 |
| Risk factors, n (%) | ||||
| Dyslipidemia | — | 5 (31.3) | 12 (30.8) | 0.972 |
| Hypertension | — | 11 (68.8) | 30 (76.9) | 0.531 |
| Diabetes mellitus | — | 6 (37.5) | 17 (43.6) | 0.680 |
| Smoking | 5 (33.3) | 5 (31.3) | 13 (33.3) | 0.954 |
| Stroke/TIA | — | 2 (12.5) | 6 (15.4) | 0.785 |
| Family history of CAD | 2 (13.3) | 4 (25.0) | 10 (25.6) | 0.616 |
| Coronary artery bypass | — | 2 (12.5) | 6 (15.4) | 0.785 |
| Coronary artery stents | — | 4 (25.0) | 11 (28.2) | 0.810 |
| Cardiac biomarkers | ||||
| cTnI (ng/ml) | — | <0.03 | <0.06 | 0.056 |
| AST (IU/L) | — | 20.0 (6.1) | 23.4 (10.9) | 0.152 |
| LDH (IU/L) | — | 185.2 (44.1) | 194.8 (39.0) | 0.429 |
| CK (IU/L) | — | 116.2 (49.5) | 127.3 (50.6) | 0.459 |
| CK-MB (IU/L) | — | 16.7 (7.2) | 20.7 (9.4) | 0.132 |
| α-HBDH (IU/L) | — | 157.3 (26.9) | 175.2 (33.4) | 0.063 |
| Medication, n (%) | ||||
| Aspirin | 2 (13.3) | 7 (43.75) | 26 (66.7) | 0.002 |
| Clopidogrel | — | 4 (25.0) | 12 (30.8) | 0.810 |
| Beta-blocker | — | 4 (25.0) | 17 (43.6) | 0.401 |
| Calcium-channel blocker | — | 5 (33.3) | 14 (35.9) | 0.744 |
| Oral nitrate | — | 5 (33.3) | 12 (30.8) | 0.972 |
| ACE-inhibitor/ARB | — | 6 (37.5) | 18 (46.2) | 0.452 |
| Statin | 2 (13.3) | 12 (75.0) | 31 (79.5) | 0.272 |
| CEC/mL | 1.5 (1.0–3.5) | 6.9 (3.8–8.9) | 10.0 (5.5–18.5) | <0.01 |
HC, healthy control; CSA, chronic stable angina; UA, unstable angina; TIA, transient ischemic attack; CAD, coronary artery disease; cTnI, Cardiac troponin I; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; CK, creatine kinase; CK-MB, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase; α-HBDH, α-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase; ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker. Results are expressed as mean (SD, standard deviation), or median (IQR, inter-quartile range), or as number [n (%)].