June 12, 2009Stroke
Does ABCD 2 Score Below 4 Allow More Time to Evaluate Patients With a Transient Ischemic Attack?
Key result
An ABCD2 score <4 failed to safely rule out high-risk disease, with 20% of these patients requiring urgent treatment compared to 31.6% of patients with a score ≥4.
Why the study?
Does an ABCD2 score <4 safely allow delayed evaluation in patients with a transient ischemic attack?
Population
1176 patients with a definite or possible transient ischemic attack or minor stroke included in the SOS-TIA…
Design
Cohort
Authors
Discussion
Loading...
Member takes
Implication
ABCD2 <4 may not safely permit delayed TIA evaluation; leaves open whether guidelines require revision pending prospective validation.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=1,176)
Structured PICO
Does an ABCD2 score <4 safely allow delayed evaluation in patients with a transient ischemic attack?
P
Population
1176 patients with a definite or possible transient ischemic attack or minor stroke included in the SOS-TIA registry
I
Intervention
Triage based on ABCD2 score <4 vs ≥4 or NICE criteria
O
Outcome
Requirement for urgent admission to a stroke unit (defined as presence of symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis ≥50%, symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis ≥50%, or major cardiac source of embolism)composite
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 20% vs 31.6%
An ABCD2 score <4 does not safely exclude the presence of high-risk disease requiring urgent treatment in TIA patients, challenging guidelines that allow delayed evaluation.
Cite This Study
Amarenco et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Transient ischemic attack or minor stroke (n=1,176). ABCD2 score <4 vs. ABCD2 score ≥4 was evaluated on Requirement for urgent admission to a stroke unit (symptomatic internal carotid or intracranial artery stenosis ≥50%, or major cardiac source of embolism). An ABCD2 score <4 failed to safely rule out high-risk disease, with 20% of these patients requiring urgent treatment compared to 31.6% of patients with a score ≥4.