One in eight strokes preceded by warning

One out of every eight strokes is preceded by a 'warning stroke', new research has found.

A study published in the journal Neurology found the warnings took the form of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke.

As part of the study, researchers identified all people at Ontario hospitals with a diagnosis of stroke over four years.

Of the 16,400 patients, 2,032, or 12.4 per cent, had a TIA prior to the stroke.

Those who did not have a warning stroke were more likely to have a more serious stroke than those who did have the warning stroke.

The authors of the study claim those with no warning were more likely to die while at the hospital, more likely to have a heart arrest while in the hospital and less likely to be able to go home after the hospital stay, rather than to a nursing home or rehabilitation centre.

Those with the warning stroke were typically older than those without warning strokes. They were also more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

Daniel Hackam from the University of Western Ontario said: 'These results illustrate the need for better risk assessment tools for preventing strokes before they occur.

'Other studies have shown that up to 80 percent of strokes after TIA can be prevented when risk factors are managed intensively.

'It's possible that the blood vessels of those with warning strokes were preconditioned to the lack of blood flow, which protected them from the full result of the larger stroke. Any person who experiences even a minor stroke should get to the emergency room immediately.'