Association between symptoms reported in a population questionnaire and future ischemic stroke: the ARIC study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Disease Research

Background:

• Early identification of individuals at high risk for ischemic stroke is crucial for preventative strategies.
• The predictive value of self-reported transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke symptoms for future stroke events requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between computer-diagnosed symptoms from a questionnaire and the incidence of first hospitalized ischemic stroke.
• To evaluate the predictive power of self-reported prior TIA/stroke symptoms on future ischemic stroke risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 11,804 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study with no baseline stroke history.
• Utilized a symptom questionnaire for computer-derived diagnosis and tracked incident ischemic stroke over up to 11 years.
• Statistical adjustments for age, locale, sex, and race were applied.

Main Results:

• Participants reporting prior TIA/stroke symptoms had a 2.8 times higher hazard rate for incident ischemic stroke (95% CI: 1.9-4.1).
• Increased relative risk was observed in younger individuals, women, African-Americans, non-smokers, and those with lower white blood cell counts.
• 265 strokes occurred between 1987-1998 among the study cohort.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported baseline symptoms suggestive of TIA/stroke are a significant predictor of future ischemic stroke.
• The findings highlight specific demographic and clinical factors associated with elevated stroke risk in individuals with prior symptoms.