Patient Characteristics
After excluding patients with incomplete follow-up data, 149 patients remained, and their data were analyzed (Figure 1 ). These patients were classified into two groups (DM group [n=60] and non-DM group [n=89]) according to whether or not they had DM. The median follow-up times for each group were as follows: DM group (38.0 months, 95% confidence interval [CI], 36.8-39.1 months) and non-DM group (39.0 months, 95% CI, 36.7-41.2 months). Compared to those without DM, patients with DM had a higher hypertension rate (72% vs 53%, P =0.021) as well as lower CRP levels (5.7±1.5 vs 11.3±2.9 mg/dL, P <0.001) and white blood cell counts (14.2±1.9 vs 18.3±3.7 10^9/L, P <0.001). The geometric measurements of the aorta indicated that patients in the non-DM group had larger ascending aortas (39.9±3.8 vs 37.9±2.5 mm,P <0.001) and descending aortas (37.9±3.5 vs 34.9±2.8 mm, P <0.001) as well as thicker hematomas (9.5±1.2 vs 7.0±1.3 mm, P <0.001) than those in the DM group. The other demographic characteristics, such as concomitant diseases and medical treatment strategy, were similar between the two groups (Table 1 ). The MMP-9 levels in the DM group were lower than those in the non-DM group at each timepoint (P< 0. 001, Figure 2 ).