Patients’ main clinical findings
| Clinical features | LOSA plus RLSh (N=69) | LOSA or RLSh or neither (N=266) | Total (N=335) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age (SD, range) | 62 years (±14; 22–85) | 64 years (±14; 18–90) | 64 years (±14; 18–90) |
| Men | 68% | 67% | 67% |
| Mean body mass index* (SD, range) | 27 (±4; 18–38) | 26 (±4; 17–42) | 26 (±4; 17–42) |
| Prior cardio-cerebrovascular events | 33% | 28% | 29% |
| Hypertension | 57% | 65% | 64% |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17% | 21% | 21% |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 41% | 44% | 43% |
| Smoking | 25% | 26% | 26% |
| Atrial fibrillation | 10% | 14% | 13% |
| Family history of cardiovascular diseases | 45% | 44% | 44% |
| Oral anticoagulants | 3% | 6% | 6% |
| Antiplatelet therapy | 30% | 31% | 31% |
| Index event | |||
| Stroke | 77% | 83% | 82% |
| TIA | 23% | 17% | 18% |
| Index event—OCSP classification | |||
| POCS | 26% | 14%† | 17% |
| LACS | 16% | 30%† | 27% |
| PACS | 38% | 39% | 38% |
| TACS | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Unclassified | 17% | 13% | 14% |
*Weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres.
†Indicates a significant different distribution between patients with RLSh plus LOSA and patients without the association (see text for details).
LACS, lacunar syndrome; LOSA, long obstructive sleep apnoea events lasting 20 s or more; OCSP, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project; PACS, partial anterior circulation syndrome; POCS, posterior circulation syndrome; RLSh: right to left shunt; TACS, total anterior circulation syndrome; TIA, transient ischemic attack.