1. Stroke and TIA Evaluations in Neurologically Underserved Regions Ganesh Asaithambi, MD John Nasseff Neuroscience Specialty Clinic 11/8/18

2. Disclosures
No relevant financial or competing interests

3. Objectives Discuss current burden of stroke and TIA
Review acute evaluations for patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms
Identify methods of evaluation for stroke and TIA patients for secondary prevention

4. What is a stroke?

5. What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

6. Background 795,000 people in US have a stroke each year
A stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the US
Every 4 minutes a stroke-related death occurs
Women between ages of are twice as likely to have and die from a stroke than breast cancer
Fifth leading cause of death in US
Leading cause of disability
Benjamin EJ et al. Circulation 2018;137:e67-e492.

7. The Basics: Types of Stroke
APPROVED:STROKE PROMO DECK
Hemorrhagic Stroke (13%)
Ischemic Stroke (87%)
Large Vessel Disease
Intracerebral
Hemorrhage
Cryptogenic
Cardioembolism
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Cerebrovascular disease is a heterogeneous disease. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures. A portion of the brain dependent on blood flow from this vessel becomes deprived of oxygen. Within minutes, nerve cells begin to die, which results in permanent disability. Strokes can be categorized as either hemorrhagic or ischemic.1 Hemorrhagic strokes occur as a result of bleeding into the brain caused by an injury to the head or a ruptured aneurysm. Although less common than ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes produce more fatalities. Hemorrhagic strokes are further categorized as intracerebral or subarachnoid. An intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when a defective artery in the brain ruptures and the surrounding area of the brain fills with blood. A subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the subarachnoid space between the skull (but not within the tissues of the brain). Ischemic strokes can be further divided into subcategories. A cerebral embolism is a result of a clot or embolus that forms in another portion of the body such as the heart (in the case of atrial fibrillation) and is carried through the bloodstream, becomes lodged in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, and blocks the flow of blood. Atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease results in stroke when there is an impediment to normal blood perfusion as a result of severe arterial stenosis or occlusion due to atherosclerosis and coexisting thrombosis.2 Lacunar infarcts result from microatheroma, lipohyalinosis, and other occlusive diseases of the small penetrating arteries of the brain; these are sometimes referred to as subcortical infarcts. Cryptogenic infarcts refer to ischemic strokes in which the underlying etiology remains obscure.
Of the definite or probable strokes reported in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI’s) Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study,3 83% were ischemic, 10% were intracerebral, and 7% were subarachnoid hemorrhages. Among the 178 confirmed thrombotic brain infarctions, 38% were classified as lacunar strokes, occurring in small blood vessels of the brain.
Small vessel disease
Benjamin EJ et al. Circulation 2018;137:e67-e492.
References
American Stroke Association. Impact of Stroke. Available at: Accessed June 21, 2002.
Albers GW, Easton JD, Sacco RL. Antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke. Chest. 1998;114:683S-698S.
Rosamond WD, Folsom AR, Chambless LE, et al. Stroke incidence and survival among middle-aged adults: 9-year follow-up of the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) cohort. Stroke. 1999;30:

8. Stroke in Minnesota (2016)
~2.5% of adults in Minnesota reported ever having had a stroke in their lifetime
More than 100,000 people
More than 5% of all deaths in Minnesota are due to stroke (2,197 deaths in 2016)
Fifth-leading cause of death in the state
More than 11,000 hospitalizations for acute stroke events
Ranked 11th lowest for overall stroke mortality among states and District of Columbia
From , stroke death rate is 26% higher in African-Americans and Asians compared to whites
Minnesota Department of Health

9. System of Stroke Care in Minnesota
As July 1, 2018 – 115 stroke hospitals
91% of MN residents live within 30 minutes of a designated stroke center!
Minnesota Department of Health

10. Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
“Warning strokes” that can happen before a major stroke
~5 million Americans will experience a TIA
Almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke
Get a good history, rule out possible mimics
Seizure
Hypo/hyperglycemia
Migraine
Conversion disorder/reaction
Hypertensive encephalopathy
Drug toxicity
Benjamin EJ et al. Circulation 2018;137:e67-e492.

11. TIA Workup: Inpatient vs Outpatient
ABCD2 score (0-7)
Age ≥ 60 years (1)
Blood pressure (1)
Systolic ≥ 140 mmHg
Diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg
Clinical features
Unilateral weakness (2)
Speech impairment without weakness (1)
Duration
≥ 60 minutes (2)
10-59 minutes (1)
Presence of diabetes mellitus (1)
Johnston SC et al. Lancet 2007;369:

12. TIA Workup: Inpatient vs Outpatient
ABCD2 score
2-Day risk (%)
7-Day risk (%)
90-Day risk (%)
0-3
1.0
1.2
3.1
4-5
4.1
5.9
9.8 ≥6
8.1
11.7
17.8
Johnston SC et al. Lancet 2007;369:

13. But first…

14. Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment Options
IV alteplase is recommended for selected patients who may be treated within 3 hours of onset of ischemic stroke (Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence A)
IV alteplase should be administered to eligible patients who can be treated in the time period of 3 to 4.5 hours after stroke (Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence B)
Patients should receive mechanical thrombectomy …within 6 hours of symptom onset (Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence A) if eligible
If eligible patients can receive mechanical thrombectomy
Between 6 and 16 hours of symptom onset (Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence A)
Between 16 and 24 hours of symptom onset (Class I Recommendation, Level of Evidence B-R)
Powers WJ et al. Stroke 2018;49:e46-e110

15. Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment Options
Because time from onset of symptoms to treatment has such a powerful impact on outcomes, treatment with IV alteplase should not be delayed to monitor for further improvement (Class III Recommendation, Level of Evidence C-EO)
Powers WJ et al. Stroke 2018;49:e46-e110

16. Rural-Urban Inequity in IV alteplase
From :
103 rural hospitals
IV alteplase use increased from 12.9% to 15.9% of all stroke patients (p=0.0013)
Gonzales S et al. Neurology 2017;88:
Tsai AW et al. Stroke. 2018;49:AWP276

17. Work Up for the Stroke/TIA Patient

18. Cranial Imaging Computed tomography (CT) head Hemorrhage?
Can be negative in the first few hours with increased sensitivity several hours later
Early CT signs of ischemia confers worse prognosis
Wardlaw JM et al. Radiology 2005;235:

19. Cranial Imaging Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
More sensitive that CT
Not as generalizable
Do you need to transfer the patient?

20. Vessel Imaging Carotid Dopplers MRA/CTA Digital subtracted angiography
Extra- and intracranial vasculature
Digital subtracted angiography
Gold standard

21. Cardiac Imaging Transthoracic Echocardiography
“Widely available”
Transesophageal Echocardiography
Aortic arch atherosclerosis
Patent foramen ovale and/or atrial septum aneurysm
Intracardiac tumor
Endocarditis
Left atrial appendage thrombus 3%
Christiansen ME et al. Neurologist 2018;23:30-33.

22. Immediate Anticoagulation
Arterial occlusion – why not?
When compared to aspirin or placebo
No evidence in superior prevention of stroke within 14 days
No significant difference in long-term outcome or independence
High risk of intracranial bleeding within 7 days
No variation across etiologies of stroke
Not recommended for treatment of patients with AIS (Class III Recommendation, Level of Evidence A)
Berge E et al. Lancet 2000;355:
TOAST Investigators. JAMA 1998;274:
Bath PM et al. Lancet 2001;358:
Powers WJ et al. Stroke 2018;49:e46-e110

23. Antiplatelets for Noncardioembolic Strokes
FDA approval for secondary prevention of stroke/TIA
Aspirin (Class I; Level of Evidence A)
Aspirin/dipyridamole (Class I; Level of Evidence B)
Clopidogrel (Class IIa; Level of Evidence B)
Kernan et al. Stroke 2014;45:

24. Dual Antiplatelet (aspirin/clopidogrel)
Not beneficial in secondary risk prevention for non-acute events (if initiated within 3 or 6 months of stroke)
May be of benefit if started acutely (within 24 hours) for severe TIA or minor stroke
21 days within Chinese population
90 days in a more generalizable population
Intracranial severe stenosis (70-99%)
3 month therapy
Aggressive medical management
No net benefit when used > 1 year
Diener HC et al. Lancet 2004;364:
Cote R et al. Neurology 2014;82:
Wang Y et al. N Engl J Med 2013;369:11-19.
Chimowitz M et al. N Engl J Med 2011;365:
Zaidat OO et al. JAMA 2015;313:
Lee M et al. Ann Intern Med 2013;159:
Johnston SC et al. N Engl J Med 2018;379:

25. Long-term Anticoagulation
Warfarin
Atrial fibrillation (Class I; Level of Evidence A)
Mechanical aortic or mitral valve (Class I; Level of Evidence B/C)
Intracardiac thrombus (Class I; Level of Evidence C)
Left ventricular assist device (Class IIa; Level of Evidence C)
Cardiomyopathy with ejection fraction < 35% (Class IIb; Level of Evidence B)
Rheumatic mitral valve disease (Class IIb; Level of Evidence C)
Kernan et al. Stroke 2014;45:

26. Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
Apixaban
Rivaroxaban
Dabigatran
Edoxaban

27. Outpatient Arrhythmia Monitoring
Current duration of outpatient monitoring is undetermined
At least 24 hours upon admission for stroke
External monitors
7-, 14-, 28-, and 30-day monitors
Insertable monitors
Up to 3 years
Jauch E et al. Stroke 2013;44:

28. Proportion of Cardiovascular Disease Risks by Age
Asberg S et al. Stroke 2014;41:

29. Lipid Management High dose atorvastatin Prior stroke or TIA
Reduction in recurrent stroke completed with placebo
SPARCL Investigators. N Engl J Med 2006;355:

30. Blood Pressure Control

31. “Basic Work Up” CT head Carotid Dopplers TTE Lipids Hemoglobin A1c
Screening labs (PT/INR)
Electrocardiogram

32. Conclusions
Not all patients need to be transferred to a “larger” hospital for stroke/TIA work up
Confer with a neurologist when you can
Strokes are not all the same
Patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms to the emergency department should still be considered for acute stroke treatments