Calcifications of Vertebrobasilar Arteries on CT: Detailed Distribution and Relation to Risk Factors in 245 Ischemic Stroke Patients
Table 1
Demographic characteristics of ischemic stroke patients overall and grouped by vertically dispersed calcifications.
All ()
No vertically dispersed calcifications ()
Vertically dispersed calcifications ()
Age (years)
79.0 (71.0–84.0)
78.0 (70.5–85.5)
79.0 (72.0–84.0)
Female
141 (57.6)
71 (71.0)
70 (48.3)
Prior stroke
54 (22.0)
21 (21.0)
33 (22.8)
Arterial hypertension
186 (75.9)
75 (75.0)
111 (76.6)
Diabetes mellitus
51 (20.8)
15 (15.0)
36 (24.8)
Atrial fibrillation
51 (20.8)
17 (17.0)
34 (23.4)
Heart failure
46 (18.8)
17 (17.0)
29 (20.0)
Statin therapy
60 (24.5)
17 (17.0)
43 (29.7)
Transitory ischemic attack
16 (6.5)
3 (3.0)
13 (9.0)
Previous TIA/stroke
68 (27.8)
23 (23.0)
45 (31.0)
Myocardial infarction
16 (6.5)
4 (4.0)
12 (8.3)
Peripheral arterial occlusive disease
14 (5.7)
4 (4.0)
10 (6.9)
Artificial heart valve
4 (1.6)
2 (2.0)
2 (1.4)
Carotid arteries disease
8 (3.3)
2 (2.0)
6 (4.1)
Carotid arteries intervention
3 (1.2)
1 (1.0)
2 (1.4)
Smoking history*
59 (24.1)
21 (21.0)
38 (26.2)
OCSP classification
TACI
47 (19.2)
14 (14.0)
33 (22.8)
PACI
144 (58.8)
60 (60.0)
84 (57.9)
LACI
1 (0.4)
0 (0.0)
1 (0.7)
POCI
50 (20.4)
25 (25.0)
25 (17.2)
UNK
3 (1.2)
1 (1.0)
2 (1.4)
TOAST classification
LAA
42 (17.1)
14 (14.0)
28 (19.3)
CAE
83 (33.9)
32 (32.0)
51 (35.2)
SAO
18 (7.3)
10 (10.0)
8 (5.5)
UND
102 (41.6)
44 (44.0)
58 (40.0)
Cholesterol (mmol/L)
LDL (mmol/L)
HDL (mmol/L)
Creatinine (mol/L)
Data presented as number (percentages), median (quintiles), or means ± standard deviation. Smoking history unknown in 61/245 (24.9%) of patients. LDL: low density lipoprotein cholesterol. HDL: high density lipoprotein cholesterol. LAA: large artery atherosclerosis, CAE: cardioembolic, SAO: small artery occlusion, UND: undetermined. TACI: total anterior circulation infarct, PACI: partial anterior circulation infarct, LACI: lacunar cerebral infarct, POCI: posterior circulation infarct, UNK: unknown site of the infarct.
