The prevailing belief that transient ischemic attack is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is based primarily on comparisons of survival of patients after transient ischemic attacks to that of an age-, race-, and sex-adjusted general population. Concomitant conditions that carry a high risk of premature mortality or morbidity, such as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, ...

Reduced impact of ischemia after an initial ischemic insult—ischemic preconditioning—has been demonstrated in a number of animal models. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) may produce ischemic preconditioning in people who have a subsequent stroke within days of an initial ischemic insult. We performed a cohort study of all 1707 patients given a diagnosis of TIA by an emergency department physicia...

In a community-based study of transient ischemic attack and stroke, we identified 184 cases of transient ischemic attack and 213 cases of first-ever minor ischemic stroke. A comparison of age, sex, and prevalence of coexistent vascular diseases and risk factors revealed no major differences between the two groups. The risk of further stroke and of further stroke and/or death was greater in pati...

In a community-based study of transient ischemic attack and stroke, we identified 184 cases of transient ischemic attack and 213 cases of first-ever minor ischemic stroke. A comparison of age, sex, and prevalence of coexistent vascular diseases and risk factors revealed no major differences between the two groups. The risk of further stroke and of further stroke and/or death was greater in pati...