Table 1 Baseline study population characteristics

Age (years)

66.1 ± 9.3

68.0 ± 6.3

Sex (n/% female)

5 (25%)

6 (30%)

Diagnosis (IS/TIA)^a

12/6 (60%/30%)

11/8 (55%/40%)

Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS)

 58

15 (75%)

17 (85%)

 57

3 (15%)

0

 56

1 (5%)

2 (10%)

 55

1 (5%)

0

 54

0

1 (5%)

Living arrangements

 Living alone

3 (15%)

5 (25%)

 Living with a partner

17 (85%)

15 (75%)

Educational attainment

 Secondary school

7 (35%)

3 (15%)

 Vocational education or training

2 (15%)

8 (40%)

 Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

6 (15%)

4 (20%)

 Master’s degree

3 (5%)

5 (25%)

Pre stroke performance status

 0 (asymptomatic)

18 (90%)

17 (85%)

 1 (some symptoms, no disabilities)

2 (10%)

3 (15%)

Self-rated health

 Less good

3 (15%)

0

 Good

12 (60%)

7 (35%)

 Very good

4 (20%)

13 (65%)

Comorbidities

 Charlson Comorbidity Index

  0

10 (50%)

10 (50%)

  1

5 (25%)

9 (45%)

  2

3 (15%)

0

   > 2

2 (10%)

1 (5%)

 Known diabetes

4 (20%)

0

 Previous stroke

4 (20%)

4 (20%)

 Previous myocardial infarction

2 (10%)

1 (5%)

 Heart arrythmia (known or diagnosed)

2 (10%)

3 (15%)

Risk factors

 Smoking

  Current

3 (15%)

0

  Former smoker

11 (55%)

9 (45%)

  Never smoked

5 (25%)

11 (55%)

 Package years

10 (IQR 3–15)

10 (IQR 3.9–10.5)

 Alcohol intake (units/week)

6 (IQR 1.75–20.25)

5 (IQR 2.5–8.5)

Body composition

 Body weight (kg)

88.5 ± 15.5

82.6 ± 13.6

 Body mass index (kg/m²)

26.9 (IQR 25.5–30.9)

25.5 (IQR 23.5–28.1)

 Waist/hip ratio

1.00 ± 0.09

0.98 ± 0.12

Biochemistry

 HbA1c, mmol/L

7.05 ± 2.15

6.51 ± 0.66

 Total cholesterol, mmol/L

4.96 ± 1.16

5.16 ± 1.05

 LDL, mmol/L

2.76 ± 0.97

3.09 ± 0.87

 HDL, mmol/L

1.38 ± 0.50

1.34 ± 0.30

 VLDL, mmol/L

0.71 ± 0.25

0.75 ± 0.35

 Triglycerides, mmol/L

1.62 ± 0.63

1.90 ± 1.11