TABLE 1:

Baseline Characteristics of the Study Population

CharacteristicValue
Age (y)
 Mean67
 Range39–88
Sex (N = 390) (%)
 Male76
 Female24
Symptoms* (%)
 Amaurosis fugax, retinal20
 Transient ischemic attack38
 Stroke33
 Asymptomatic9
Hypertension (%)48
Diabetes (%)15
Cardiac history (%)
 Angina18
 Myocardial infarction16
 Heart failure6
 Bypass-surgery or PTCA†11
Peripheral arterial disease (%)
 Claudication15
 Surgery or PTA‡8
Smoker, %
 Yes49
 Former34

  • * Present 0–6 months prior to the patient’s inclusion into the study.

  • † Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

  • ‡ Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.