Gaps in professional and community knowledge about stroke prevention and treatment

Antithrombotic therapy is under-utilized in patients discharged from a hospital following a TIA or stroke4. Nearly one-third of patients presenting to a primary care physician’s office with a first-ever TIA or minor stroke have no diagnostic studies over the ensuing month8, the period of highest risk9. In addition, only small proportions of ischemic stroke patients receive intravenous thrombolytic therapy under clinical guidelines, as approved by the US Food and Drug Administration10.