Table 1 Comparison of main characteristics between transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and possible TIA patients

Male gender

154 (59.7 %)

65 (59.6 %)

0.922

Median age (IQR)

68 (59–77)

62 (49–69)

<0.001

Median time (days) between event and visit (IQR)

4.5 (2–7)

4 (2–7)

0.976

Hypertension

189 (73.5 %)

67 (61.5 %)

0.021

Diabetes

44 (17.1 %)

17 (15.6 %)

0.720

Dyslipidemia

121 (47.3 %)

49 (45 %)

0.685

Ischemic heart disease

25 (9.7 %)

10 (9.2 %)

0.878

Atrial fibrillation

23 (8.9 %)

1 (0.9 %)

0.005

Previous TIA

22 (8.5 %)

5 (4.6 %)

0.186

Previous stroke

6 (2.3 %)

6 (5.5 %)

0.194

Smoking

0.536

 Ever

174 (67.7 %)

80 (73.4 %)

 Former

44 (17.1 %)

12 (11.0 %)

 Current

39 (15.2 %)

17 (15.6 %)

Acute onset

241 (93.4 %)

62 (56.9 %)

<0.001

Motor symptoms

146 (56.6 %)

31 (28.4 %)

<0.001

Aphasia

71 (27.7 %)

9 (8.3 %)

<0.001

Dysarthria

41 (16.0 %)

15 (13.8 %)

0.584

Sensory symptoms

86 (33.3 %)

51 (46.8 %)

0.015

Positive symptoms

24 (9.3 %)

24 (22.2 %)

0.001

Duration (minutes) - Median (IQR)

30 (10–120)

30 (8–90)

0.087

ABCD2 score >4

185 (72 %)

36 (34.6 %)

<0.001

Presumed vascular territory

<0.001

 Carotid

198 (76.7 %)

38 (35.2 %)

 Vertebro-basilar

52 (20.2 %)

56 (51.9 %)

 Undetermined

8 (3.1 %)

14 (13.0 %)

TOAST Classification

0.009

 Large-vessel atherosclerosis

39 (15.1 %)

6 (5.5 %)

 Cardioembolism

33 (12.8 %)

6 (5.5 %)

 Small vessel occlusion (lacune)

46 (17.8 %)

18 (16.5 %)

 Other determined etiology

8 (3.1 %)

2 (1.8 %)

 Undetermined etiology (≥2 causes, negative or incomplete evaluation)

132 (52.3 %)

82 (75.3 %)