Article Text
Aetiology
Patients with carotid artery stenosis had a high risk for stroke, and some types of stroke were not prevented by endarterectomy
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QUESTION: In patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, what are the causes and severity of stroke for varying degrees of stenosis?
Design
Cohort study using data from the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) with mean follow up of 5 years.
Setting
106 centres mostly in North America.
Patients
2885 patients (median age 67 y, 70% men) with ICA stenosis.
Assessment of risk factors
ICA stenosis measured by angiography and duplex ultrasonography; categories of stenosis were <60%, 60% to 69%, and 70% to 99%.
Main outcome measures
Ischaemic strokes were classified as large artery, lacunar, or cardioembolic (possible or probable) strokes. Severity was also assessed (non-disabling, disabling, or fatal).
Main results
During follow up, 749 patients had 1039 …