After PSM, among 34,024 patients, cardiac complications or death within 30 days of the index ischemic stroke occurred in 5624 (33.1%) patients with CRP levels > 3 mg/L compared to 3947 (23.2%) in those with CRP levels < 1 mg/L (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.45–1.58). Here, CRP is linked to ischemic stroke.