Functional and emotional outcomes after transient ischemic attack: A 12-month prospective controlled cohort study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours.
• Emerging evidence suggests potential prolonged functional and psychological impacts post-TIA.
• Distinguishing TIA effects from age-related changes has been challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe disability trajectories in TIA patients over 12 months.
• To assess the risk of anxiety and depression in TIA patients compared to controls.
• To investigate functional and emotional outcomes irrespective of final diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• 1320 participants from 30 TIA clinics in England were included.
• Participants included TIA, minor stroke, possible TIA, mimic diagnoses, and healthy controls.
• Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered at baseline and 3, 6, 12 months.

Main Results:

• At baseline, TIA patients showed significantly worse anxiety, depression, and daily living scores than controls.
• At 12 months, TIA patients still exhibited significant deficits in anxiety and depression.
• Patients diagnosed with minor stroke showed similar or worse outcomes than TIA patients.

Conclusions:

• Patients attending TIA clinics may experience persistent functional and emotional impairments.
• Anxiety and depression symptoms in TIA patients may not fully resolve and could increase over time.
• These findings highlight the need for ongoing support beyond the acute phase of TIA.