In the multivariate stepwise regression analysis with backward selection, the associations between IL-6 (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.19–1.52; P < 0.0001) or YKL-40 (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–1.03; P = 0.004) and recurrent stroke remained significant (Additional file 1: Fig. S4). Here, IL6 is linked to Stroke.