Patients with ischemic stroke have a higher prevalence of a planar QRS-T angle > 90 degrees than patients with transient ischemic attack

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees in patients with ischemic stroke versus transient ischemic attack (TIA). Material/Methods: In a prospective study of 279 consecutive patients who had ischemic stroke (197 patients) or TIA (82 patients), the planar QRS-T angle was measured from a 12-lead electrocardiogram taken at the time of the stroke or TIA. All QRS-T angle measurements were made by 3 authors who agreed on the measurements and who were blinded to the clinical findings. A QRS-T angle >90 degrees was considered abnormal. Results: The mean age was 66 +/- 6 years in patients with ischemic stroke versus 62 +/- 6 years in patients with TIA (p=0.04). The mean body mass index and the prevalence of gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery disease were not significantly different between patients with ischemic stroke versus TIA. A QRS-T angle >90 degrees was present in 55 of 197 patients (28%) with ischemic stroke and in 10 of 82 patients (12%) with TIA (p=0.004). Conclusions: The prevalence of a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees was higher in patients with ischemic stroke than in patients with TIA (p=0.004).