Table 1

Baseline characteristics of study participants

CategoriesPTAS group (n=400)Medical group (n=409)P value
Age59.31 (10.35)58.09 (11.09)0.11
Sex
 Male255 (63.75%)280 (68.46%)0.16
 Female145 (36.25%)129 (31.54%)
Ethnicity origin
 Black55 (13.75%)49 (11.98%)0.55
 White160 (40.00%)162 (39.61%)
 Yellow180 (45.00%)188 (45.97%)
 Other5 (1.25%)10 (2.44%)
Medical history
 Body mass index28.72 (5.7328.30 (5.600.31
 Hypertension317 (79.25%)328 (80.20%)0.79
 Diabetes162 (52.43%)147 (47.57%)0.19
 Coronary artery disease66 (16.50%)78 (19.07%)0.36
 Lipid disorder213 (53.25%)223 (54.52%)0.72
 Peripheral artery disease9 (2.25%)15 (3.67%)0.30
 Received antiplatelet therapy prior to latest qualifying event193 (48.25%)188 (45.97%)0.53
Smoking history
 Former118 (29.50%)118 (28.85%)0.21
 Current95 (23.75%)119 (29.10%)
 never186 (46.50%)172 (42.05%)
 Time from latest ischaemic event to randomisation, day30.81 (41.5833.71 (46.230.35
Qualifying event
 TIA169 (42.25%)152 (37.16%)0.15
 Stroke231 (57.75%)257 (62.84%)
 Stenosis rate of symptomatic qualifying artery % stenosis79.74 (6.25)79.23 (6.39)0.25
Symptomatic qualifying artery
 ICA60 (15.00%)66 (16.14%)0.05
 MCA157 (39.25%)184 (44.99%)
 VA84 (21.00%)56 (13.69%)
 BA99 (24.75%)103 (25.18%)
Distribution, % stenosis
 70–79213 (53.25%)232 (56.72%)0.45
 80–89157 (39.25%)143 (34.96%)
 90–9930 (7.50%)34 (8.31%)
 mRS score0.88 (0.95)0.90 (0.960.74
 NIHSS score1.15 (1.86)1.08 (1.75)0.58
 LDL-C (mmol/L%)2.34 (1.08)2.35 (2.44)
 HDL-C (mmol/L%)1.67 (0.69)1.69 (0.69)0.56
  • Data are mean±SD, n (%)

  • BA, basilar artery; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; ICA, internal carotid artery; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MCA, middle cerebral artery; mRS, modified Rankin scale; NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; PTAS, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting; TIA, transient ischaemic attack; VA, vertebral artery.