Table 1 Control subject and patient characteristics
Baseline characteristics | Controls | Patients | Â | Â |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean age ± S.D. (years) | 68.7 ± 12.6 | 69.6 ± 13.0 |  |  |
Male | 24 (67%) | 24 (67%) | Stroke characteristics | |
Caucasian | 36 (100%) | 36 (100%) | Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) classification | |
Systolic blood pressure* | 142 (100, 200) | 151 (60, 232) | Total anterior circulation syndrome | 16 (46%) |
Diastolic blood pressure* | 79 (60, 120) | 82 (40, 146) | Partial anterior circulation syndrome | 12 (34%) |
Body mass index* (kg/m2) | 26 (17, 36) | 26 (18,41) | Lacunar syndrome | 5 (14%) |
'Significant' atherosclerosis | 17 (47%) | 17 (47%) | Posterior circulation syndrome | 2 (6%) |
Current or former smoker | 23 (64%) | 25 (69%) | National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score* | |
Smoking history unknown | 0 (0%) | 1 (3%) | Admission | 14 (3, 24) |
Hypertension | 11 (31%) | 23 (64%) | 5–7 days | 11 (1, 42) |
Atrial fibrillation | 2 (6%) | 8 (22%) | Modified Rankin Scale* | |
Diabetes mellitus | 6 (17%) | 3 (8%) | Pre-stroke | 0 (0, 4) |
Ischaemic heart disease | 7 (19%) | 8 (22%) | Barthel Index* | |
Prevalence of selected drugs** | Â | Â | Pre-stroke | 100 (20, 100) |
Paracetamol | Not known | 20 (56%) | Â | Â |
Statins | 11 (31%) | 20 (56%) | Â | Â |
Antiplatelet agents | 14 (39%) | 33 (92%) | Infections/other events associated with an inflammatory response|| | |
Warfarin | 2 (6%) | 4 (11%) | Pre-stroke | 3 (8%)¶ |
ACEIs†or A-IIR‡ antagonists | 5 (14%) | 10 (28%) | Pre-stroke or 1st week after stroke | 11 (33%)¶ |
NSAIDs§ | 4 (11%) | 7 (19%) |  |  |
Beta-blockers | 7 (19%) | 15 (42%) | Pre-3 months | 5 (21%)¶ |
Inhaled corticosteroids | 2 (6%) | 6 (17%) | Pre-1 year | 3 (17%)¶ |
Azathioprine | 1 (3%) | 0 (0%) | Â | Â |