Under Treatment of High-Risk TIA Patients with Clopidogrel-Aspirin in the Emergency Setting

Andrea R. Lendaris, Samantha Lessen, Natalie T. Cheng, Benjamin W. Friedman, Charles Esenwa, Daniel L. Labovitz, Shyam Prabhakaran, Richard B. Lipton, Ava L. Liberman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Treating high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) reduces subsequent ischemic stroke risk yet current rates of clopidogrel-aspirin treatment are uncertain. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive TIA patients who presented to any of the four emergency departments (ED) of a single urban health system from 1/1/2018-3/1/2020. Medical record review was used to describe the cohort and assess clopidogrel-aspirin treatment. Patient eligibility for clopidogrel-aspirin was determined using relevant criteria from the Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke (POINT) Trial. Comparisons among eligible patients who received versus did not receive clopidogrel-aspirin were conducted using t-test, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney as indicated. Results: We identified 248 TIA patients of whom 95 met eligibility criteria for clopidogrel-aspirin treatment. Among these 95 patients, mean age was 69.5 (SD: 12), 68.4% were women, and median ABCD2 score was 5 (IQR: 4-6). A total of 26/95 (27.4%) eligible patients received clopidogrel-aspirin within 24 hours of symptom onset. Appropriate clopidogrel-aspirin use was associated with having a stroke code called upon ED arrival (88.5% vs. 34.8%; P<0.001), being evaluated by a vascular neurologist (88.5% vs. 21.1%; P<0.001), and not presenting to the community ED site wherein only a single patient received clopidogrel-aspirin. Conclusions: In a multisite, single health system study, nearly three-fourths of high-risk TIA patients eligible for clopidogrel-aspirin treatment did not receive it. Appropriate clopidogrel-aspirin use was highest among patients seen by vascular neurologists and lowest at the community ED, though under treatment was evident at all sites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106145
JournalJournal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Volume30
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Acute ischemic stroke
  • Antiplatelet therapy
  • Minor stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Rehabilitation
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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