Baseline characteristics
| All, N=366 | No atrial fibrillation, n=349 | Atrial fibrillation, n=17 | |
| Age, mean (SD) | 70 (8.1) | 69.8 (8) | 74.6 (9.3) |
| Age ≥75 years | 106 (29) | 97 (27.8) | 9 (52.9) |
| Female | 126 (34.4) | 124 (35.5) | 2 (11.8) |
| Years since last stroke | 3.9 (2.5–5.9) | 3.9 (2.5–5.9) | 3.8 (2.4–4.6) |
| >1 clinical stroke or TIA | 104 (28.4) | 101 (28.9) | 3 (17.6) |
| CHA₂DS₂-VASc score | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 5 (4–6) |
| CHA₂DS₂-VASc groups | |||
| 2–3 | 83 (22.7) | 81 (23.2) | 2 (11.8) |
| 4–5 | 230 (62.8) | 220 (63) | 10 (58.8) |
| 6–7 | 53 (14.5) | 48 (13.8) | 5 (29.4) |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Ischaemic heart disease | 27 (7.4) | 25 (7.2) | 2 (11.8) |
| Heart failure | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| Hypertension | 255 (69.7) | 241 (69.1) | 14 (82.4) |
| Diabetes | 50 (13.7) | 46 (13.2) | 4 (23.5) |
| COPD | 17 (4.6) | 16 (4.6) | 1 (5.9) |
| Kidney disease | 13 (3.6) | 12 (3.4) | 1 (5.9) |
| Sleep apnoea | 17 (4.6) | 16 (4.6) | 1 (5.9) |
| Smoking (pack years) | |||
| None | 118 (32.2) | 111 (31.8) | 7 (41.2) |
| 1–20 | 76 (20.8) | 72 (20.6) | 4 (23.5) |
| >20 | 172 (47) | 166 (47.6) | 6 (35.3) |
| Excessive alcohol intake | 44 (12) | 42 (12) | 2 (11.8) |
| Married/partner | 269 (73.5) | 255 (73.1) | 14 (82.4) |
| Nursing home | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| No acute infarct on imaging | 163 (44.5) | 158 (45.3) | 5 (29.4) |
| Acute lacunar infarct | 87 (23.8) | 87 (24.9) | 0 |
| Acute non-lacunar infarct | 91 (24.9) | 81 (23.2) | 10 (58.8) |
| Ultrasound or angiography conducted | 322 (88) | 308 (88.3) | 14 (82.4) |
| Occlusion or stenosis* | 70 (19.1) | 65 (18.6) | 5 (29.4) |
| Prior cECG | 148 (40.4) | 140 (40.1) | 8 (47.1) |
| Chronic infarction | 180 (49.2) | 174 (49.9) | 6 (35.3) |
| TOAST classification | |||
| Small artery occlusion | 169 (46.2) | 165 (47.3) | 4 (23.5) |
| Cardioembolism | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Large-artery atherosclerosis | 43 (11.7) | 39 (11.2) | 4 (23.5) |
| Undetermined | 149 (40.7) | 140 (40.1) | 9 (52.9) |
| Other† | 5 (1.4) | 5 (1.4) | 0 |
| Pulse | 70 (62–78) | 70 (62–78) | 68 (61–75) |
| Systolic BP | 141.5 (131–153) | 142 (131–153) | 137 (132–153) |
| Diastolic BP | 83 (77–92) | 84 (77–92) | 82 (70–87) |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.9 (24.2–29.9) | 26.8 (24.1–30) | 28.2 (26.7–29) |
| LDL-C (mmol/L) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) | 2 (1.3–2.2) |
| Dyslipidaemia (LDL >1.8 mmol/L) | 176 (48.1) | 165 (47.3) | 11 (64.7) |
| Creatinine (μmol/L) | 79 (67–92) | 78 (66–92) | 85 (75–96) |
| HbA1C (mmol/mol) | 38 (36–41) | 38 (36–41) | 40 (37–42) |
| NT-proBNP (pg/mL) | 105.3 (51.2–211.4) | 101.5 (48.2–208) | 191.1 (92.2–339.1) |
| NT-proBNP ≤200 pg/mL | 267 (73) | 258 (73.9) | 9 (52.9) |
| NT-proBNP 199–399 pg/mL | 39 (10.7) | 36 (10.3) | 3 (17.6) |
| NT-proBNP ≥400 pg/mL | 60 (16.4) | 55 (15.8) | 5 (29.4) |
All categorical data are expressed as n (%).
The variables years since last stroke, CHA2DS2-VASc score, pulse, BP, BMI, LDL-C, creatinine, HbA1C and NT-proBNP are expressed with median (Q1–Q3).
*>50% occlusion or stenosis.
†Vascular dissection and in one patient vasculitis was suspected.
BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; cECG, continuous ECG; CHA₂DS₂-VASc, Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, previous Stroke/transient ischemic attack, Vascular disease, Sex category; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder; HbA1C, haemoglobin A1C; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; NT-ProBNP, N-terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP); TIA, transient ischaemic attack; TOAST, Trial of Org 10 172 in Acute Stroke Treatment.