Risks for myocardial infarction or nonstroke vascular death after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack were each 2% per year.

M e t h o d s Data sources: MEDLINE (to March 2005), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (issue 4, 2004), and bibliographies of included studies and relevant reviews. Study selection and assessment: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective cohort studies that were published in English since 1980, included ≥ 100 patients with ischemic stroke or TIA followed for ≥ 1 year with < 5% loss to follow-up, and reported incidence of MI or nonstoke vascular death. Studies were excluded if they involved patients with mainly hemorrhagic stroke or an unusual cause of stroke, or highly selected populations. 25 RCTs and 14 cohort studies (n = 65 996) met the selection criteria. 2 reviewers independently determined eligibility of studies using a standardized form. Outcomes: Nonfatal, fatal, and total MI, and nonstroke vascular death.