Following a transient ischemic attack (TIA), what is a key predictive factor for a subsequent stroke?

The ABCD2 score is a clinical tool used to assess the risk of stroke after a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This scoring system evaluates five criteria: Age, Blood pressure, Clinical features, Duration of symptoms, and Diabetes. Each factor contributes to calculating a score that helps predict the likelihood of a subsequent stroke.

A higher ABCD2 score indicates a greater risk of future strokes, facilitating timely intervention and management. For instance, an older patient or one with certain clinical features such as unilateral weakness would score higher and signify a need for closer monitoring and aggressive risk factor management.

In contrast, while factors like age can influence stroke risk, the ABCD2 score provides a more structured and predictive approach to assessing subsequent stroke risk specifically following a TIA. Therefore, the utility of the ABCD2 score as a consolidated tool makes it a key predictive factor for subsequent strokes after a TIA.