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Transient ischaemic attacks and stroke
1Royal Perth Hospital, WA. gjhankey@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Insights
Effective stroke prevention is key to reducing deaths and disability in Australia. Managing risk factors like hypertension and atrial fibrillation, alongside prompt specialist care and early rehabilitation, significantly improves outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Cardiology
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia.
- Effective stroke prevention strategies are crucial for reducing its societal burden.
- Key modifiable risk factors include hypertension, smoking, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and carotid stenosis.
Abstract:
Stroke is the third most common cause of death and a major cause of disability in Australia. Effective prevention is the most powerful strategy for reducing the burden of stroke. Major modifiable causal risk factors for stroke include hypertension, cigarette smoking, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and carotid stenosis. Atrial fibrillation, in particular, is under-treated in the community; almost all patients should be prescribed warfarin or aspirin, depending on their absolute risk of stroke and risk of bleeding complications. Patients with suspected acute stroke should be referred immediately to a specialist stroke unit for urgent assessment and care by an interested, organised, multidisciplinary team of stroke experts. They should undergo immediate computed tomography brain scan and, if intracranial haemorrhage is excluded, be given aspirin (160-300 mg). Rehabilitation and secondary prevention of recurrent stroke should begin on day one after stroke.