Baseline characteristics
| Medical Group (n = 61) | Stenting Group (n = 53) | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (yr) (mean ± SD) | 66.9 ± 12.3 | 66.1 ± 11.9 | NS |
| Male (No.) (%) | 51 (83.6%) | 44 (83.0%) | NS |
| Vascular risk factors, history of | |||
| Hypertension (No.) (%) | 49 (80.3%) | 42 (79.2%) | NS |
| Diabetes (No.) (%) | 28 (45.9%) | 25 (47.2%) | NS |
| Lipid disorder (No.) (%) | 22 (36.1%) | 17 (32.1%) | NS |
| Cigarette smoking (No.) (%) | 20 (32.8%) | 17 (32.1%) | NS |
| Stroke/TIA (No.) (%) | 18 (29.5%) | 17 (32.1%) | NS |
| Ischemic heart disease (No.) (%) | 21 (34.4%) | 16 (30.2%) | NS |
| Peripheral vascular disease (No.) (%) | 4 (6.6%) | 4 (7.5%) | NS |
| Presenting symptoms | |||
| Ischemic stroke (No.) (%) | 23 (38.3%) | 19 (35.8%) | NS |
| TIA (No.) (%) | 38 (62.3%) | 34 (64.2%) | NS |
| Functional status at presentation | |||
| mRS score | 1.80 | 1.64 | NS |
| Location of stenosis | |||
| Anterior circulation (No.) (%) | 45 (60.0%) | 32 (57.1%) | NS |
| Posterior circulation (No.) (%) | 30 (40.0%) | 24 (42.9%) | NS |
| Pattern of stenotic vessel | |||
| Isolated intracranial stenosis | 28 (45.9%) | 33 (58.9%) | NS |
| Concomitant extracranial stenosis | 33 (54.1%) | 20 (35.7%) | NS |
| Percentage of stenosis at presentation | 80.5% | 79.7% | NS |
| Follow-up time | |||
| Observation period in months (mean ± SD) | 17.0 ± 11.0 | 17.2 ± 10.5 | NS |