Table 2.
Baseline Characteristics by Cerebrovascular Event Development
| Variable | Overall Cohort | No Event | Stroke/TIA | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n=326) | (n=303) | (n=23) | ||
| Demographics | ||||
| Age, y | 58.8±11.9 | 58.5±11.6 | 62.4±12.0 | 0.13 |
| Male | 245 (74.9) | 227 (74.7) | 18 (78.3) | 0.70 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 27.6±5.4 | 27.6±5.4 | 27.9±5.3 | 0.74 |
| Traditional CVD risk factors | ||||
| Hypertension | 146 (44.6) | 133 (43.8) | 14 (60.9) | 0.11 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 30 (9.2) | 29 (9.5) | 2 (8.7) | 0.89 |
| Dyslipidemia | 102 (31.2) | 96 (31.6) | 6 (26.1) | 0.65 |
| Mean LDLa | 105.6±35.5 | 104.7±35.7 | 115.5±31.4 | 0.16 |
| Smoking historyb | 199 (60.9) | 118 (61.8) | 81 (60.0) | 0.73 |
| Current smoking | 69 (21.1) | 63 (20.7) | 6 (26.1) | 0.54 |
| Carotid artery disease | 7 (2.1) | 6 (2.0) | 1 (4.3) | 0.45 |
| Coronary artery disease | 26 (8.0) | 25 (8.2) | 2 (8.7) | 0.94 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 12 (3.7) | 11 (3.6) | 1 (4.3) | 0.59 |
| Prior CVE | 19 (5.8) | 15 (4.9) | 4 (17.4) | 0.014 |
| Prior CHF | 10 (3.1) | 9 (3.0) | 1 (4.3) | 0.71 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 9 (2.8) | 7 (2.3) | 2 (8.7) | 0.13 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 11 (3.4) | 9 (3.0) | 2 (8.7) | 0.14 |
| Mean ASCVD 10‐y risk, % | 9.3±10.5 | 9.1±10.4 | 12.3±11.9 | 0.24 |
| Radiation characteristics | ||||
| Mean radiation dose, mSv | 70.2±19.9 | 69.9±19.9 | 74.9±19.4 | 0.25 |
| Proton RT | 13 (4.0) | 13 (4.3) | 0 (0) | 0.61 |
| Cancer treatmentsc | ||||
| Chemotherapy | 288 (89.4) | 273 (89.8) | 20 (87.0) | 0.72 |
| Neck dissection | 132 (40.4) | 128 (42.1) | 6 (26.1) | 0.13 |
| RT alone | 10 (3.1) | 8 (2.6) | 2 (8.7) | 0.15 |
| Type of HNCA | ||||
| Nasopharyngeal | 15 (4.6) | 13 (4.3) | 2 (8.7) | 0.33 |
| Oropharyngeal | 235 (71.9) | 218 (71.7) | 17 (73.9) | 0.82 |
| Hypopharyngeal | 18 (5.5) | 18 (5.9) | 0 (0) | 0.63 |
| Laryngeal | 17 (5.2) | 15 (4.9) | 2 (8.7) | 0.43 |
| Other | 58 (17.7) | 55 (18.1) | 3 (13.0) | 0.78 |
| Advanced disease at presentationd | 60 (18.3) | 58 (19.1) | 2 (8.7) | 0.27 |
| Medications | ||||
| Antihypertensive | 153 (46.9) | 138 (45.5) | 15 (65.2) | 0.08 |
| Antiplatelet | 75 (23.0) | 69 (22.8) | 6 (26.1) | 0.80 |
| Lipid lowering | 103 (31.6) | 99 (32.7) | 4 (17.4) | 0.16 |
Values are mean (%) and continuous variables are mean ±SD. Antihypertensive medications include aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and long‐acting nitrates. Antiplatelet medications include aspirin and clopidogrel. Lipid‐lowering medications are ezetimibe, niacin, and statins. ASCVD indicates atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; BMI, body mass index; CHF, congestive heart failure; CVD, cerebrovascular disease; CVE, cerebrovascular event; HNCA, head and neck cancer; HPV, human papillomavirus; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein; RT, radiation therapy; TIA, transient ischemic attack.
Mean LDL is the most recent LDL available before RT.
Smoking history indicates current or prior smoking.
Percentage of full cohort treated.
Advanced disease is stage IV.