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Patients with typical transient ischemic attacks(TIAs)have a higher risk of stroke but a lower risk of cardiac events than patients with nonspecific transient neurological symptoms.We assessed the prevalence of typical TIAs and nonspecific transient neurological attacks(TNAs)and their determinants in the general population because such data are virtually absent.Prevalence of TNAs was 1.9%in subjects aged 55 to 64 years,3.5%in subjects aged 65 to 74 years,4.3%in subjects aged 75 to 84 years,and 5.1% in subjects aged 85 years or over.Prevalence figures for typical TIA were 0.9%,1.7%,2.3%and 2.2%and for nonspecific TNA 1.0%,1.8%,2.0%,and 2.9%, respectively,Clinical parameters such as number of attacks,onset,duration, and disappearance of symptoms were similar for typical TIA and nonspecific TNA.Increased age,male sex,diabetes mellitus,low HDL cholesterol,Q-wave myocardial infarction on electrocardiogram,and carotid atherosclerosis were related to typical TIA,whereas increased age,hypertension,low HDL cholesterol,smoking,and angina pectoria were associated with nonspecific TNA.About half of the subjects with a TNA had symptoms that were not entirely typical for a TIA.Differences in association with risk factors between typical TIA and nonspecific TNA point toward different underlying mechanisms of symptoms and may lead to different ancillary investigations and possibly treatment. |
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