Strokes can be predicted and even prevented under a new risk score that has been developed by scient...
Strokes can be predicted and even prevented under a new risk score that has been developed by scientists at Oxford University.
The risk score is based on research into the relationship between Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) or 'ministrokes' and the risk of the victim subsequently suffering a fullblown stroke.
TIAs only last a few minutes but one in five sufferers will experience a stroke within a month, with the highest risk being in the first 72 hours.
Researchers at Oxford's Stroke Prevention Research Unit identified four factors that can be used to predict the likelihood of someone who has experienced a TIA going on to have a stoke.
Taking into account the age of the patient, their blood pressure, the patient's clinical features and the duration of the TIA, researchers formulated the ABCD score.
Using the ABCD score researchers found that patients with a high score had more than a 30% chance of suffering a stroke within a week of having a TIA, as opposed to those with low ABCD scores, none of whom experienced early stroke.
Commenting on the score, lead researcher Professor Peter Rothwell said: "Although further refinements will be helpful, the ABCD can be used in routine clinical practice to identify high-risk individuals who need emergency treatment." Optimism has been dampened however by current NHS waiting times for victims of TIAs.
Although clinical guidelines recommend TIA patients are treated within seven days, most UK patients will wait more than two weeks, rendering the ABCD test redundant.
