Prevalencia de categorías de riesgo de accidente cerebrovascular mediante la escala ABCD² en pacientes con ataque isquémico transitorio atendidos en el Hospital IESS Milagro entre 2023 y 2025.

Abstract

Introduction: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a neurological emergency that represents a high-risk clinical marker for the short-term development of stroke. The ABCD² score is a widely used tool to stratify this risk and guide early clinical decision-making. Objective: To determine the prevalence of stroke risk categories according to the ABCD² scale in patients with transient ischemic attack treated at Hospital IESS Milagro during 2023–2025. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted in 83 patients diagnosed with TIA. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with JAMOVI, including frequencies, percentages, and association tests, considering statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results: Patients aged 60–74 years (38.6%) and males (56.6%) predominated. Arterial hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity (72.3%), followed by dyslipidemia (55.4%). The most common clinical manifestation was unilateral weakness (54.2%). Elevated blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg) was observed in 68.7% of cases, and 42.2% had symptom duration ≥60 minutes. According to the ABCD² scale, 39.8% were classified as high risk, 34.9% as intermediate risk, and 25.3% as low risk. Significant associations with high risk were identified for age ≥60 years (75.8%; p=0.05), elevated blood pressure (84.8%; p=0.01), unilateral weakness (78.8%; p=0.002), symptom duration ≥60 minutes (72.7%; p=0.001), and diabetes mellitus (54.5%; p=0.03). Conclusion: There is a predominance of intermediate and high-risk categories among patients with TIA, associated with specific clinical factors. The ABCD² score demonstrates usefulness for early risk stratification and optimization of clinical management.