Prehospital stroke detection scales: A head-to-head comparison of 7 scales in patients with suspected stroke.

Background: Several prehospital scales have been designed to aid paramedics in identifying stroke patients in the ambulance setting. However, external validation and comparison of these scales are largely lacking.

Aims: To compare all published prehospital stroke detection scales in a large cohort of unselected stroke code patients.

Vitamin K antagonists versus antiplatelet therapy after transient ischaemic attack or minor ischaemic stroke of presumed arterial origin.

Background: People who have had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or non-disabling ischaemic stroke have an annual risk of major vascular events of between 4% and 11%. Aspirin reduces this risk by 20% at most. Secondary prevention trials after myocardial infarction indicate that treatment with vitamin K antagonists is associated with a risk reduction approximately twice that of treatment with antiplatelet therapy.