TABLE 1.

Clinical characteristics of patients

Variable	TAD (n = 20)	Controls (n = 10)
Demographics, n (%)
Age (y)	54.2 ± 8.5	46.6 ± 9.2
Male, n (%)	14 (70.0)	8 (80.0)
Aortic diameter, mm	56.8 ± 6.5	32.1 ± 3.2
Medical history, n (%)
Hypertension	15(75.0)	1 (10.0)
Smoking	6 (30.0)	1 (10.0)
Marfan syndrome	2 (10.0)	0
Bicuspid aortic valve	1 (5.0)	0
Diabetes mellitus	2 (10.0)	0
Coronary artery disease	0	0
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	0	0
Aortic valve insufficiency (moderate or severe), n (%)	8 (40.0)	2 (20.0)
Presenting symptoms and signs
Chest pain, n (%)	16 (80.0)	1 (10.0)
Back pain, n (%)	3 (15.0)	0
Chest and back pain, n (%)	1 (5.0)	0
Syncope, n (%)	4(20.0)	0
Hypotension/tamponade/shock, n (%)	3 (15.0)	0

Results are represented as n (%) or mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviation: TAD, Thoracic aortic dissection.