Vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinaemia in outpatients with stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a cohort study at an academic medical centre

Objective We sought to assess the current magnitude of the opportunity for secondary stroke prevention with B vitamins. Design A cohort study. Setting The Urgent TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) Clinic at an academic medical centre. Main outcome measures We assessed the prevalence of biochemical vitamin B-12 deficiency (B-12 Def, serum B-12 < 156 pmol/L), hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy; plasma total homocysteine [tHcy] >14 mu mol/L) and metabolic B-12 deficiency (MetB(12) Def, serum B-12 < 258 pmol/L and HHcy) between 2002 and 2017, by age group and by stroke subtype. Results Data were available in 4055 patients. B-12 Def was present in 8.2% of patients overall; it declined from 10.9% of patients referred before 2009 to 5.4% thereafter (p=0.0001). MetB(12) Def was present in 10.6% of patients, and HHcy was present in 19.1% of patients. Among the patients aged >= 80 years, MetB(12) Def was present in 18.1% and HHcy in 35%. Among the 3410 patients whose stroke subtype was determined, HHcy was present in 18.4% of patients: 23.3% of large artery atherosclerosis, 18.1% of cardioembolic, 16.3% of small vessel disease, 10.8% of other unusual aetiologies and 13.6% of undetermined subtypes (p=0.0001). Conclusions Despite a decline in our referral area since 2009, B-12 Def, MetB(12) Def and HHcy remain common in patients with stroke/TIA. Because these conditions are easily treated and have serious consequences, all patients with stroke/TIA should have their serum B-12 and tHcy measured.