Outcomes of Mild Stroke and High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack in Current Clinical Practice

Early assessment and management of patients with mild stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) by specialists were recommended. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of these patients and identify the predictive factors of clinical progression, unfavorable outcomes, and recurrent stroke.

Patients with mild ischemic stroke (NIHSS ≤5) and high-risk TIA were studied. All patients were managed by stroke specialists within 24 h of stroke onset. The outcomes of the patients at 3 months and final follow-up were studied. Predictive factors of clinical progression, unfavorable outcomes, and recurrent stroke were analyzed.

254 patients were studied. Thirty-eight patients (15%) had clinical progression during admission. Large artery atherosclerosis (OR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.06-5.81), cardioembolism (OR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.26-8.87), and brainstem stroke (OR 2.78, 95% CI: 1.28-6.01) were associated with clinical progression. At the final follow-up, median 22 months, 81 patients (32%) had unfavorable outcomes. Previous disability (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 3.31-100), moderate to severe white matter lesions (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.44-5.84), clinical progression (OR 12.5, 95% CI: 5.08-31.25), and recurrent stroke (OR 8.47, 95% CI: 3.21-22.72) were related to unfavorable outcomes. Eleven patients (4%) had recurrent stroke within 3 months and 31 patients (12%) at the final follow-up. Older age (OR 6.68, 95% CI: 2.35-19.02), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.59, 95% CI: 1.07-6.27), and smoking (OR 4.26, 95% CI: 1.52-11.95) were related to recurrent stroke.

Implementation of the up-to-date standard care in clinical practice would bring good clinical outcomes to the patients with mild stroke and high-risk TIA.