Baseline characteristics of the study groups
| Characteristic | sCAD (n = 153) | non-CAD IS (n = 153) | Controls (n = 153) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *In women ⩽45 years of age. | ||||
| CAD, cervical artery dissection; IS, ischaemic stroke; s, spontaneous. | ||||
| Mean (SD) age in years | 45.2 (13.1) | 44.5 (12.9) | 44.2 (13.2) | 0.220 |
| Male sex (n) | 86 (56.2%) | 86 (56.2%) | 86 (56.2%) | 0.663 |
| Current smoker (n) | 36 (23.5%) | 57 (37.3%) | 42 (27.5%) | 0.045 |
| Hypertension (n) | 41 (26.7%) | 50 (32.7%) | 26 (17.0%) | 0.041 |
| Diabetes mellitus (n) | 7 (4.5%) | 15 (9.8%) | 5 (3.3%) | 0.209 |
| Hypercholesterolaemia (n) | 41 (26.7%) | 58 (37.9%) | 30 (19.6%) | 0.010 |
| Oral contraceptives* (n) | 15 (36.5%) | 16 (31.4%) | 10 (23.3%) | 0.430 |