Table 1 presents the baseline characteristics of SAI patients and non-SAI patients. The frequency of dysphagia (P < 0.001) and atrial fibrillation (P = 0.002) was higher in SAI patients. Meanwhile, patients with SAI tended to have higher NIHSS (P < 0.001) and mRS (P < 0.001) scores, leukocyte counts (P = 0.041), neutrophil counts (P = 0.001), and NLR (P < 0.001) on admission. However, lymphocyte (P = 0.001), CD4+ T cell counts (P < 0.001), CD8+ T cell counts (P = 0.011) and hypertriglyceridemia levels (P = 0.004) were lower and more infrequent in those with SAI. Here, CD4 is linked to atrial fibrillation.