Strong Association Between Migraine and Transient Global Amnesia: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis.

The purpose of this article was to explore sex- and race-specific variables and comorbidities associated with transient global amnesia (TGA) using a nationally representative database. Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample using ICD-9 and procedure codes. Descriptive and survey logistic regression analyses were conducted and adjusted for influence of comorbidities, demographic characteristics, and hospitalization-related factors. Patients with migraines were 5.98 times more likely to also have a diagnosis of TGA compared with patients without migraines. Similarly, patients with TGA were more likely to have hypertension, precerebral disease, and hyperlipidemia. The odds of being diagnosed with TGA was lower among African Americans and Hispanics as well as among patients classified as Asian/Other, compared with Caucasians. TGA was associated with lower hospital charges ($14,242 versus $21,319), shorter hospital stays (mean days: 2.49 [SE=0.036] versus 4.72 [SE=0.025]), and routine hospital discharges (91.4% versus 74.5%). Patients with migraines and patients classified as Caucasian had higher odds of being diagnosed with TGA. All minority populations showed a lower rate of diagnosis that fell short of statistical significance.

Risk prediction of very early recurrence, death and progression after acute ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early recurrent strokes lead to extended hospitalization and high number of complications. We investigated three stroke scores, the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS), the ABCD(2) and the Recurrence Risk Estimator at 90 days (RRE-90) for their prognostic value to predict early recurrent stroke, death and progressive stroke. METHODS: Clinical and radiological data from 1727 consecutive patients with ischaemic stroke, being admitted to the stroke unit, were evaluated retrospectively. Predictive value of stroke scores was tested for early recurrence within 7 days, death and progressive stroke expressed as observational risk and area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Early recurrent stroke occurred in 56 patients (3.2%), 40 patients (2.3%) died within the first 7 days and 125 patients (7.2%) had a progressive stroke. ESRS was not predictive for early recurrence, death or progressive stroke. ABCD(2) score was predictive for death (P<0.01; χ(2); AUROC, 0.65; 0.58-0.72), and progressive stroke (P<0.001; χ(2); AUROC, 0.70; 0.66-0.74). RRE-90 predicted early recurrent stroke (P<0.001; χ(2); AUROC, 0.65; 0.58-0.73), early death (P<0.001; χ(2); AUROC, 0.72; 0.66-0.78) and progressive stroke (P<0.001; χ(2); AUROC, 0.66; 0.61-0.71). CONCLUSIONS: RRE-90 bears high potential to not only predict early recurrence but also death and progression after ischaemic stroke. ABCD(2) appears to be useful to predict risk of death and progression. These findings have relevant clinical implications for early triage of patients being admitted to stroke units.