Sick leave and homecare need in patients with transient ischaemic attack compared with ischaemic stroke: A nationwide follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Emerging evidence indicates lasting impairments in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), which may be unexpected as symptoms per definition recover within 24 h. How these impairments impact return to work or the ability to maintain independence is unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the need of sick leave or homecare following TIA compared with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients registered with TIA in the Danish Stroke Registry from 2014 to 2021 were included. Information on sick leave benefits and use of homecare was obtained from national registries. The cumulative risk of sick leave or homecare was calculated and compared with AIS. A hazard rate ratio (HRR) for return to work was calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 29,261 TIA and 64,295 AIS events were included. For TIA, 6770 patients paid labour market contribution before TIA, of which 1240 patients (18.3%) received sick leave benefits after 5-12 weeks. For AIS 48.1% (5940 of 12,340) received sick leave benefits. The HRR for return to work was 2.37 (95% confidence interval 2.13-2.64). For patients aged 65-79, a total of 15.4% TIA (175 of 1136) and 30.6% AIS (1443 of 4716) started to receive homecare at 3 months. The HRR was 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.49-0.62).

CONCLUSION

Despite the transient event almost one out of five working patients with TIA receive sick leave benefits 5-12 weeks after. Initiation of homecare was required in nearly one out of six patients with TIA aged 65-79 years.