Survival rates after Transient Ischaemic Attacks

January 01, 0001

Survival rates after Transient Ischaemic Attacks

There is a lack of modern-day data quantifying the effect of transient ischemic attack (TIA) on survival, and recent data do not take into account expected survival. Data for 22,157 adults hospitalized with a TIA from July 2000, to June 2007, in New South Wales, Australia, were linked with registered deaths to June 2009. The researchers estimated survival relative to the age- and sex-matched general population up to 9-years after hospitalization for TIA comparing relative risk of excess death between selected subgroups.

At 1 year, 91.5% of hospitalized patients with TIA survived compared with 95.0% expected survival in the general population. After 5 years, observed survival was 13.2% lower than expected in relative terms. By 9 years, observed survival was 20% lower than expected. Females had higher relative survival than males (relative risk, 0.79). Increasing age was associated with an increasing risk of excess death compared with the age-matched population. Prior hospitalization for stroke (relative risk, 2.63) but not TIA (relative risk, 1.42) significantly increased the risk of excess death. Of all risk factors assessed, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and prior hospitalization for stroke most strongly impacted survival.

The researchers concluded: "This study is the first to quantify the long-term effect of hospitalized TIA on relative survival according to age, sex, and medical history. TIA reduces survival by 4% in the first year and by 20% within 9 years. TIA has a minimal effect on mortality in patients less than 50 years but heralds significant reduction in life expectancy in those greater than 65 years."

There is much room for prevention here. Interestingly, I thought there was more concern with a TIA in age less than 50.

For the full abstract, click here.

Stroke published online 10 November 2011 © 2011 American Heart Association, Inc
Relative Survival After Transient Ischaemic Attack Results From the A Program of Research Informing Stroke Management (PRISM) Study. Melina Gattellari, Chris Goumas, Frances Garden et al. Correspondence to Melina Gattellari: Melina.Gattellari@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Category: K. Circulatory, N. Neurological. Keywords: follow-up, relative survival, transient ischaemic attack, prospective cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 2 December 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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