Incidence of transient ischemic attacks in Dijon, France. A 5-year community-based study.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of first-ever TIA and the distribution of risk factors in those patients with TIA in Dijon. We performed a prospective population-based study in Dijon City with 135,000 inhabitants, from 1990 to 1994, using several case-collection sources. Over a 5-year period, we recorded 258 cases of first-ever TIA, giving a crude annual incidence rate of 38.68/100,000 for men and 32.70/100,000 for women. The mean age of first-ever TIA was higher in women (71.75 years) than in men (70.35 years). A CT scan was performed in 97% of the cases and silent lacunes were discovered in 17% of cases. In our 5-year study in Dijon of first-ever TIA, we found incidence rates similar to those of previous population-based studies. Our results also support the hypothesis that risk factors for TIA are similar to those for stroke.