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There have been few recent population-based studies reporting the incidence (first ever) and attack rates (incident and recurrent) of transient ischemic attack (TIA).The fourth Auckland Regional Community Stroke study (ARCOS IV) used multiple overlapping case ascertainment methods to identify all hospitalized and nonhospitalized cases of TIA that occurred in people ≥16 years of age usually resident in Auckland (population ≥16 years of age is 1.12 million), during the 12 months from March 1, 2011. All first-ever and recurrent new TIAs (any new TIA 28 days after the index event) during the study period were recorded.There were 785 people with TIA (402 [51.2%] women, mean [SD] age 71.5 [13.8] years); 614 (78%) of European origin, 84 (11%) Māori/Pacific, and 75 (10%) Asian/Other. The annual incidence of TIA was 40 (95% confidence interval, 36-43), and attack rate was 63 (95% confidence interval, 59-68), per 100 000 people, age standardized to the World Health Organization world population. Approximately two thirds of people were known to be hypertensive or were being treated with blood pressure-lowering agents, half were taking antiplatelet agents and just under half were taking lipid-lowering therapy before the index TIA. Two hundred ten (27%) people were known to have atrial fibrillation at the time of the TIA, of whom only 61 (29%) were taking anticoagulant therapy, suggesting a failure to identify or treat atrial fibrillation.This study describes the burden of TIA in an era of aggressive primary and secondary vascular risk factor management. Education programs for medical practitioners and patients around the identification and management of atrial fibrillation are required.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Stroke

Publisher

American Heart Association

Publication Date

09/2016

Volume

47

Pages

2183 - 2188

Addresses

From the Centre for Brain Research (P.A.B.), National Institute for Health Innovation (V.P.), and Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care (B.A.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences (R.K., E.W., A.T., B.T.A., P.P., V.L.F.) and School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences (E.R.), Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand; Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand (P.A.B., N.E.A., D.K., E.W.); Departments of Medicine, Waitemata (D.K., Y.R., V.L.F.) and Counties Manukau (E.W., G.G.), District Health Boards, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Neurology, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand (A.R.) and Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand (A.R.); School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (F.M.S.); and Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (D.A.B.). a.barber@auckland.ac.nz.

Keywords

ARCOS IV Study Group