title: Risk factors of carotid stenosis in first-ever ischemic stroke in Taiwan: a hospital-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors of extracranial carotid atherosclerosis in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 541 consecutive first-ever ischemic stroke patients were enrolled in the present study. We examined clinical and laboratory factors that were potentially relevant to extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis. The degree of carotid stenosis was diagnosed based on B-mode ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample contained 325 men and 216 women. Among these patients, 80% had a < 50% carotid stenosis and 20% had a > or = 50% carotid stenosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (odds ratio = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.06-1.11, P < 0.001) and smoking (odds ratio = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.17-3.54, P = 0.012) were significantly associated with > or = 50% carotid stenosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, age and smoking are found to be the independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis. The identification of these risk factors may improve our knowledge in the primary prevention of ischemic stroke in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung University School of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yeu-Jhy
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tsong-Hai
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kai-Cheng
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shan-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*