Table 1. Comparison of baseline characteristics between the case and control groups.
| Characteristic | Case group(n = 194) | Control group(n = 175) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age (years) | 39.5 ± 12.70 | 40.2 ± 7.58 | 0.411 |
| Gender (male/female) | 120/74 | 94/81 | 0.114 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.03 ± 3.68 | 23.2 ± 4.2 | 0.363 |
| Smoking history (case) | 105 | 89 | 0.53 |
| IL-17 (pg/mL) | 16.82 ± 4.37 | 8.14 ± 1.79 | < 0.001 |
| VEGF (pg/mL) | 332.56 ± 82.15 | 94.63 ± 17.38 | < 0.001 |
Note: age was represented as mean ± standard deviation; BMI, body mass index; IL, interleukin; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.