Table 1.

Comparison of general information among the four groups (n, x̅ ± sd)

Items	Normal group (n=65)	Mild group (n=72)	Moderate group (n=38)	Severe group (n=23)	χ2/t	P
Gender (Male/Female)	35/30	40/32	22/16	13/10	0.170	0.982
Age (year)	67.4±7.5	67.9±7.1	68.1±7.6	68.2±7.9	0.110	0.954
Education	11.2±4.4	11.4±4.3	11.5±3.9	11.4±4.5	0.046	0.987
BMI (kg/m2)	20.39±2.03	20.45±1.99	20.67±2.07	20.78±2.08	0.311	0.817
Combined disease
Diabetes	34	45	28	19*	8.881	0.031
Hypertension	35	38	24	14	1.437	0.697
CHD	37	41	23	13	0.169	0.982
Smoking	42	51	31	20*	7.803	0.049
Drinking	39	41	32*	20*	13.887	<0.001
Abdominal obesity	23	34*	29*	18*	22.304	<0.001
Carotid atherosclerosis or stenosis	36	39	26	17	4.573	0.208
Hyperhomocy-steinemia	47	62*	30*	23*	10.166	0.017

Note: Compared with the normal group;

^*P<0.05.

BMI: body mass index; CHD: coronary heart disease.