Ninety‐Nine Cases of Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Treated at the Clinic Without a Bed and With a Magnetic Resonance Imaging System in Japan

ABSTRACT Objectives Oral treatment with Aspirin and Clopidogrel with Aspirin is listed as evidence‐based, A‐rated treatments for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the Japanese stroke society guidelines for AIS treatment. Shahjouei et al. showed in their meta‐analysis of minor AIS and transient ischemic attack (TIA) that outpatient and inpatient treatments did not change the frequency of subsequent ischemic strokes. Japan has the most magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems among all OECD countries in 2020, and many of these systems are equipped in clinics without a bed; these clinics could be more useful treatment centers for patients with AIS than others. Since there is no data in Japan about AIS and TIA in a clinic, we summarize the results of AIS and TIA treatments at our clinic without a bed and with an MRI system. Methods and Patients The clinical and familial characteristics of 99 patients with AIS and TIA who visited our clinic between December 2012 and November 2021 were analyzed. Results Among patients with AIS treated at our clinic, more had dyslipidemia as a risk factor ( p < 0.05) and developed sensory symptoms at onset ( p < 0.05). Patients referred to the stroke center had higher modified Rankin Scale scores ( p < 0.001) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores ( p < 0.05), and were more likely to live alone ( p < 0.05). Conclusion These results showed that at our clinic without a bed and with an MRI system, we treated patients with AIS and TIA who are less severe, have sensory symptom onsets, and have a family support with only one exacerbation.