The meta-analysis identified 13 robust risk factors, including female gender (OR = 4.167), hypertension (OR = 2.824), diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.344), frontal/temporal lobe infarction (OR = 1.615/1.739), multiple cerebral infarctions (OR = 2.583), brain atrophy (OR = 2.943), hyperhomocysteinemia (OR = 3.043), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) (OR = 4.331), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR = 1.977) (all p < 0.05). Here, CRP is linked to hyperhomocysteinemia.