The risk of MI after CEA and CAS did not significantly differ. Risk factors for MI are overall similar in both techniques except that men are at lower risk of MI after CAS but not after CEA.

Objective A decline in TIA incidence would be expected mirroring stroke trends, but patient's awareness of symptoms/signs, improved diagnostic procedures and changes in severity of vascular disease may raise TIA incidence. We aimed to estimate changes in TIA incidence and 30-day stroke risk in Portugal. Methods Data from two prospective community-based registers of first-ever TIA in 104,700 (1998–2000) and 118,232 (2009–2011) persons were collected using comprehensive case ascertainment methods. Incidence and stroke risk from TIA onset were compared using different inception cohorts. ABCD2 was used to stratified stroke risk. Results Overall, 141 patients were included in 1998–2000 and 174 in 2009–2011. Crude annual incidence rate increased from 67 to 74/100,000 (IRR=1.12; 95% CI, 0.90–1.40), particularly in men under 65 years (IRR=1.79; 95% CI, 1.06–3.04). Male/female IRR increased from 1.20 (0.86–1.68) in 1998–2000 to 1.77 (1.31–2.39) in 2009–2011, after adjustment for age. Better control of vascular risk factors (VRFs) accounted for lower ABCD2 scores in 2009–2011. The 30-day stroke risk was similar in study periods (18.4% vs. 16.7%, p > 0.7), decreasing from 16.1% to 8.2% ( p < 0.042) excluding patients reporting TIA after stroke occurrence and from 12.2% to 4.0% ( p < 0.011) further excluding patients who had stroke in ambulance/hospital. ABCD2 discriminated stroke risk only in 1998–2000; stroke severity decreased while posterior circulation stroke was more common in 2009–2011. Conclusion Despite a stable TIA incidence across periods, the risk increased in men compared to women. Better control of VRF accounted for lower ABCD2 scores and secondary prevention reduced stroke risk. Men under 65 years emerge as a preferential target for primary and secondary prevention.

Objective Year 2000 marked a turning point in stroke prevention and treatment in Portugal. In face of high incidence rates stroke awareness campaigns, close surveillance of vascular risk factors and implementation of hospital stroke units were advanced by the National Health Authorities. To understand the effect of such measures, we assessed changes in stroke incidence and short-term outcome using data from two community-based registers undertaken in Porto in 1998-2000 and 2009-2011. Methods We used standard diagnostic criteria and multiple overlapping sources of case-ascertainment for first-ever strokes. Short-term outcome was measured by the modified Rankin Scale; disabling stroke was defined whenever post-stroke mRS score>pre-stroke mRS and >1. Results Globally, 462 and 405 first-ever stroke cases were registered in 1998-2000 and 2009-2011, respectively. Stroke incidence decreased by 23%, from 261 to 203/100,000 after adjustment for the Portuguese population. Significant reduction was found in those aged <75 years (31%) and in women (32%). Incidence of disabling strokes was reduced by 29%. Fatal strokes decreased by 46%, while intracerebral hemorrhage decreased by 51%. Risk of disability from stroke decreased by 11% (RR = 0.89; 95%CI, 0.81-0.98) in 2009-2011, as found after adjusting for patient/stroke characteristics in a Poisson model. Moreover, when patients arrived hospital within 3 h from stroke onset, the risk of disabling stroke was 0.76 (95%CI, 0.67-0.87) in 2009-2011 vs. 1998-2000, compared to 1.03 (95%CI, 0.89-1.12) for late arrival. Conclusion Risk of stroke, mainly of hemorrhagic stroke, was substantially reduced over time. Timely action in acute phase was responsible for the decline in disability across periods.