Frequency of Focal Cerebral Transient Ischemic Attacks During a 12 Month Period

As an offshoot of a larger prospective cardiovascular population study, the present study aimed to determine the 12 months frequency of focal cerebral transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in persons randomly , selected after age stratification from the Copenhagen city population register. A questionnaire of S questions pertaining to cerebrovascular attacks sustained within the last 12 months was distributed to 2357 persons. The TIA-questionnaire was returned by 88%, of whom 22% responded affirmatively to one or more questions. The positive responders were interviewed by phone, and when suspected of having TIAs they were examined by a neurologist. A total of 11 persons proved to have had TIAs, which for the age group of 60 years and over gives a 12 months frequency of 8/1000. Dizziness, ophthalmologic problems and migraine were the most frequent causes of a "false" positive response. Stroke Vol 10, No 5, 1979