Correlation between onset frequencies and duration of symptoms and early stroke risk in patients with transient ischemic attack

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between onset frequencies and duration of symptoms and early stroke risk in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods From January 2013 to July 2017, inpatients with TIA at the Department of Neurology, Lu'an People's Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. According to the findings of head CT or MRI reexaminations within 72 h after the first TIA, the patients were divided into non-stroke group and stroke group. The demographic and clinical data of both groups were compared. Results A total of 171 patients with TIA were enrolled, including 54 in the stroke group and 117 in the non-stroke group. There were significant differences in sex, atrial fibrillation, using anticoagulant drug before onset, baseline blood pressure (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, TIA etiology (cardiogenic embolism), TIA frequency (≥2 times), duration of TIA symptoms, ABCD2 score (6 and 7), and using antihypertensive drugs after onset in both groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that high diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio [OR] 1.121, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.016-1.238; P=0.023), high fasting glucose (OR 10.866, 95% CI 3.658-30.945; P=0.001), ABCD2 score 6 (OR 4.221, 95% CI 1.906-9.352; P<0.001), ABCD2 score 7(OR 4.207, 95% CI 2.040-9.961, P<0.001), duration of symptoms ≥60 min(OR 3.682, 95% CI 1.961-9.989; P<0.001), and frequency of TIA onset ≥2 (OR 4.220, 95% CI 1.953-9.118; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for early TIA, and the use of anticoagulants before onset was an independent protective factor (OR 0.300, 95% CI 0.097-0.923; P=0.036). Conclusion TIA patients with recurrent onset (≥2 times) and duration of symptoms longer than 60 min are more likely to develop ischemic stroke in a short term. Key words: Ischemic Attack, Transient; Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Risk Factors; Time Factors