Table 2 Baseline characteristics comparisons between Lp(a) < 300 mg/L and Lp(a) ≥ 300 mg/L of the 85 participants

General conditions and Comorbid conditions

Age (year)

68.48 ± 8.78

68.66 ± 9.00

68.00 ± 8.35

Male sex, n (%)

63 (74.1%)

45 (72.6%)

18 (78.3%)

Hypertension, n (%)

60 (70.6%)

45 (72.6%)

15 (65.3%)

Diabetes mellitus, n (%)

26 (30.6%)

21 (33.9%)

5 (21.7%)

Cerebral infraction, n (%)

21 (24.7%)

15 (24.2%)

6 (26.1%)

Coronary heart disease, n (%)

38 (44.7%)

24 (38.7%)

14 (60.9%)

Smoking history, n (%)

20 (23.5%)

14 (22.6%)

6 (26.1%)

Statin use, n (%)

79 (92.9%)

58 (91.3%)

21 (91.3%)

Serum lipid

Lp(a) (mg/L) *

184 (96.5–370)

129 (81–209.25)

473 (390–822)

TC (mmol/L)

4.49 ± 1.21

4.50 ± 1.31

4.48 ± 0.90

TG (mmol/L) *

1.34 (1.04–1.99)

1.43 (1.04–2.27)

1.27 (0.91–1.47)

LDL-C (mmol/L)

2.92 ± 0.91

2.93 ± 0.98

2.89 ± 0.70

LDL-C^(F) (mmol/L)

2.13 ± 0.75

2.20 ± 0.80

1.93 ± 0.53

HDL-C (mmol/L) *

0.99 (0.87–1.16)

0.94 (0.82–1.09)

1.11 (1.01–1.32)

Apo(a) (mmol/L) *

1.16 (1.01–1.28)

1.10 (0.97–1.30)

1.19 (1.12–1.26)

Apo(b) (mmol/L) *

0.79 (0.64–1.01)

0.78 (0.62–1.02)

0.80 (0.70–1.03)

Carotid plaque

Maximum ICA plaque thickness (mm)

3.89 ± 1.14

3.82 ± 1.10

4.03 ± 1.27

Total maximum ICA plaque thickness (mm)

6.59 ± 2.12

6.49 ± 2.14

6.84 ± 2.10

Degree of carotid stenosis

Mild, n (%)

27 (31.8%)

21 (33.9%)

6 (26.1%)

Moderate, n (%)

14 (16.5%)

11 (17.7%)

3 (13.0%)

Severe, n (%)

28 (32.9%)

16 (25.8%)

12 (52.2%)

Occlusion, n (%)

16 (18.8%)

14 (22.6%)

2 (8.7%)

Reasons for referral, n (%)

Cardiovascular ischemia-related, n (%)

44 (51.8%)

33 (53.2%)

11 (47.8%)

Cerebral ischemia-related, n (%)

30 (35.3%)

18 (29.0%)

12 (52.2%)

Asymptomatic, n (%)

7 (8.2%)

7 (11.3%)

0 (0.0%)

Other

4 (4.7%)

4 (6.5%)

0 (0.0%)