Screening, prevalence and ethnic variation of diabetes mellitus in people with acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack: a cross-sectional study in Northland, New Zealand.

Aim: To assess our prevalence and screening rate for diabetes and pre-diabetes in people presenting with acute stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in Northland, New Zealand, as well as identifying discrepancies between Māori and non-Māori, rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) and effect of metformin on stroke.

Method: Data was collected retrospectively on people diagnosed with stroke or TIA in Northland, between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014.

Results: 345 people presented with acute stroke/TIA. 49.5% had dysglycaemia: 24.3% diabetes, 25.2% pre-diabetes. An HbA1c was performed on 70.4%. Māori had more diabetes (41.6%) than non-Māori (19.4%), with an HbA1c 12 mmol/mol (3.2%) higher, and were 12 years younger on average. There was no difference in AF prevalence between people with and without diabetes, and in the proportion of severe stroke (total anterior circulation infarction) between people with diabetes on metformin and those not.

Conclusions: The prevalence of dysglycaemia in acute stroke/TIA in Northland is high. The goal of universal HbA1c screening in stroke is not being met. Māori have stroke younger, and a higher prevalence of diabetes may partially explain this. No association between diabetes and AF was found, nor evidence that metformin may be protective against larger strokes.