Death and re-hospitalization following transient ischemic attack or acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Background Longitudinal data directly comparing the rates of death and rehospitalization of patients discharged after transient ischemic attack (TIA) versus acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are lacking. Methods Data were analyzed from 2802 patients (TIA n = 552; AIS n = 2250) admitted to 100 U.S. hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke and the Adherence Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke–Longitudinal registry. The primary composite outcome was the adjusted rate of all-cause death and rehospitalization over 1 year after discharge. Four additional single or combined outcomes were explored. Results Compared with AIS, TIA patients were older (median 69 v 66 years; P = .007) and more likely female (53.3% v 44.2%; P < .0001). Secondary prevention medication use after hospital discharge was less intensive after TIA, with underuse for both conditions. All-cause death or rehospitalization at 1 year was similar for TIA and AIS patients (37.7% v 34.6%; P = .271); the frequency for TIA patients was higher after covariate adjustment (hazard ratio [HR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.41). One-year all-cause mortality was similar among those with TIA compared to AIS patients (3.8% v 5.7%; P = .071; adjusted HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.52-1.42). All-cause rehospitalizations were higher for TIA compared to AIS patients (36.4% v 33.0%; P = .186; adjusted HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.42), but similar for stroke rehospitalizations (10.1% v 7.4%; P = .037; adjusted HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.997-1.92). Conclusions Patients with TIA have similar or worse 12-month postdischarge risk of death or rehospitalization as compared with those with AIS. Outcomes after TIA and AIS might be improved with better adherence to secondary preventive guidelines.