Which tool is a predictor of a two-day risk for stroke following a TIA?

The ABCD2 score is a valuable tool used to assess the risk of stroke after a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This scoring system evaluates five key factors: age, blood pressure, clinical features of the TIA, duration of the TIA symptoms, and the presence of diabetes. Each factor is assigned a point value, and the total score helps to stratify the patient's risk of having a stroke within the first 48 hours following a TIA.

A higher score indicates an increased likelihood of subsequent stroke, making it an effective predictor for identifying patients who may benefit from urgent intervention to prevent a future stroke. In clinical practice, the ABCD2 score plays a critical role in decision-making regarding hospitalization, diagnostic testing, and initiation of secondary prevention measures after a TIA.

Other options like the FAST scale focus primarily on recognizing the signs of stroke but do not quantify the risk for stroke following a TIA. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is used for assessing the severity of a stroke rather than predicting risk after a TIA. A CT scan is crucial for diagnosing a stroke and excluding other conditions, but it does not serve as a risk prediction tool for subsequent events after a TIA. Therefore, the ABCD2 score is