INTRODUCTION Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) often precede a stroke. AIMS. The purpose of this study is to examine the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors for non-cardioembolic TIA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS A population-based case-control study was conducted in a district within the city of Barcelona. The cases were 103 patients with non-cardioembolic TIA, who had been diagnosed by a neurologist, and with normal CAT or MRI scans. Subjects were paired by age and sex with 193 controls without TIA or stroke, who were selected by simple random sampling from the clinical records file at the centre. The risk factors were studied using a standardized questionnaire that included the following factors which were codified in a dichotomous manner: smoking, arterial hypertension (AHT), hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, impaired fasting glucose and diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS The average age was 74.6 years and 52.3% of the subjects were females. All the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors were associated to a higher risk of TIA, although only AHT (OR: 1.9; CI 95%: 1.1-3.3) and obesity (OR: 2.1; CI 95%: 1.2-3.6) were associated in a significant way in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis by logistic regression, the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors that were associated in a significant manner were AHT (OR: 1.9; CI 95%: 1.0-3.6), obesity (OR: 2.8; CI 95%: 1.4-12.3) and DM (OR: 1.7; CI 95%: 1.0-2.9).

CONCLUSIONS In the present study, AHT, obesity and DM were seen to be modifiable risk factors for non-cardioembolic TIA.

Introducción Frecuentemente, el accidente isquémico transitorio (AIT) precede al ictus.

Objetivo Estudiar factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables para el AIT no cardioembólico.

Pacientes y métodos Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de base poblacional, realizado en un barrio urbano de la ciudad de Barcelona. Los casos fueron 103 pacientes con AIT no cardioembólico, diagnosticados por un neurólogo y con TAC o RM normales. Se aparearon por edad y sexo con 193 controles sin AIT ni ictus, seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio simple del archivo de historias clínicas del centro. Los factores de riesgo se estudiaron mediante un cuestionario estandarizado que recogió los siguientes factores codificados de manera dicotómica: tabaquismo, hipertensión arterial (HTA), hipercolesterolemia, hipertrigliceridemia, obesidad, intolerancia a la glucosa en ayuno y diabetes mellitus (DM).

Resultados La edad media fue de 74,6 años, con un 52,3% de mujeres. Todos los factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables se asociaron a un superior riesgo de AIT, aunque sólo la HTA (OR = 1,9; IC 95% = 1,1­3,3) y la obesidad (OR = 2,1; IC 95% = 1,2­3,6) se asociaron de manera significativa en el análisis univariado. En el análisis multivariante mediante regresión logística, los factores de riesgo cardiovascular modificables asociados de manera significativa fueron la HTA (OR = 1,9; IC 95% = 1,0­3,6), la obesidad (OR = 2,8; IC 95% = 1,4­12,3) y la DM (OR = 1,7; IC = 95% = 1,0­2,9).

Conclusiones En el presente estudio, la HTA, la obesidad y la DM han sido factores de riesgo modificables para el AIT no cardioembólico.