Table 2. The baseline characteristics for included studies.
| Author | Year | Country | Ethnicity | Sample size | Gender (M/F) | Age (years) | Methods | |||
| Case | Control | Case | Control | Case | Control | |||||
| Zhao Y(2017) | 2017 | China | Asians | 100 | 60 | 64/36 | 38/22 | 63.5±11.2 | 58.6±6.8 | ELISA |
| Wang TR(2017) | 2017 | China | Asians | 60 | 60 | 35/25 | 30/30 | 56.3±9.2 | 58.7±6.6 | ELISA |
| Zou Q(2016) | 2016 | China | Asians | 70 | 70 | 38/32 | 40/30 | 52.0±6.0 | 53.0±5.0 | ELISA |
| Zhao HG(2016) | 2016 | China | Asians | 112 | 55 | 61/51 | 31/24 | 62.0±10.0 | 60.0±7.1 | ELISA |
| Lu YQ(2016) | 2016 | China | Asians | 32 | 35 | 25/7 | 25/10 | 71.7±5.9 | 67.3±6.5 | ELISA |
| Hou XX(2016) | 2016 | China | Asians | 64 | 30 | 34/30 | 18/12 | 66.8±7.3 | 69.7±6.8 | ELISA |
| Guo CF(2016) | 2016 | China | Asians | 70 | 70 | 41/29 | 43/27 | 56.2±3.8 | 55.8±3.5 | ELISA |
| Yan WR(2015) | 2015 | China | Asians | 47 | 60 | 25/22 | 30/30 | 68.59±8.7 | 66.91±9.5 | ELISA |
| Chen FF(2015) | 2015 | China | Asians | 38 | 35 | 27/11 | NR | 60.5(42~6 | NR | ELISA |
| Wei GY(2013) | 2013 | China | Asians | 153 | 114 | 85/68 | 65/49 | 58.5 ± 12. | NR | ELISA |
| Li SS(2013) | 2013 | China | Asians | 42 | 28 | NR | 14/14 | NR | 68.8±6.9 | ELISA |
| Sarchielli P-a(2013) | 2013 | Italy | Caucasian | 28 | 31 | 6/22 | 11/20 | 64 (53~70) | 36 (28~50 | Luminex x |
| Sarchielli P-b(2013) | 2013 | Italy | Caucasian | 21 | 31 | 10/11 | 11/20 | 71(67~73) | 36 (28~50 | Luminex x |
| Jefferis BJ(2013) | 2013 | UK | Caucasian | 300 | 590 | 191/109 | 372/218 | 71.3 ± 5.3 | 71.3 ± 5.3 | ELISA |
| Sun J(2013) | 2013 | China | Asians | 79 | 60 | 40/39 | 30/30 | 68.6(60~7 | 66.5(60~7 | ELISA |
| Zhao Y(2012) | 2012 | China | Asians | 83 | 32 | 58/25 | 20/12 | 61.35±13. | 58.32±12. | ELISA |
| Wang YJ(2011) | 2011 | China | Asians | 218 | 218 | NR | NR | NR | NR | ELISA |
| Ormstad H(2011) | 2011 | Norway | Caucasian | 45 | 40 | 27/18 | 20/20 | 67.7 ± 11. | 59.1 ± 5.7 | Luminex x |
| Stott DJ-a(2009) | 2009 | UK | Caucasian | 445 | 532 | NR | 270/262 | NR | 75.9 ± 3.6 | ELISA |
| Stott DJ-b(2009) | 2009 | UK | Caucasian | 179 | 532 | NR | 270/262 | NR | 75.9 ± 3.6 | ELISA |
| Bossu P(2009) | 2009 | Italy | Caucasian | 30 | 25 | 14/16 | 12/13 | 66.4 ± 14. | 68.6 ± 7.2 | ELISA |
| Welsh P(2008) | 2008 | UK | Caucasian | 472 | 1011 | 348/124 | 750/261 | 67 (66~67 | 66 (66~67 | ELISA |
| Yuen CM(2007) | 2007 | China | Asians | 217 | 20 | 136/81 | 12/8 | 66.3 ± 10. | 67.1 ± 9.3 | ELISA |
| Zaremba J(2003) | 2003 | Poland | Caucasian | 23 | 15 | 6/17 | 4/11 | 72.2 ± 10. | 70.1 ± 8.6 | ELISA |
Notes: M = male; F = female; NR = not reported; a: silent brain infarcts; b:lacunar stroke.