Table 3.
Studies included in the meta-analysis
| Screening modality | Event (% stroke) | Setting | Consecutive cases | Cryptogenic events/total events | TOAST criteria | Mean age (SD), years | Age groups, years | Excluded cases | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital-based | |||||||||
| Di Tullio et al (1992)25 | Transthoracic echocardiography | Stroke | Neurology department | No | 45/146 (31%) | No | 61·8 (15·3) | <55 and ≥55 | 34% not referred for transthoracic echocardiography; 6·8% with inadequate transthoracic echocardiography |
| Hausmann et al (1992)26 | Transoesophageal echocardiography | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke (59·2%) | Not reported | Not reported | 65/103 (63%) | No | 52 (10) | <40 and ≥40 | Not reported |
| Jones et al (1994)27 | Transoesophageal echocardiography | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke (90·5%) | Hospital admission | Yes | 71/220 (33%) | No | 66 (13) | <50 and 50–69 | 27·6% |
| Handke et al (2007)7 | Transoesophageal echocardiography | Stroke | Stroke unit or intensive care unit | Yes | 227/503 (45%) | Yes | 62·2 (13·1) | <55 and ≥55 | 15·6% |
| De Castro et al (2010)12 | Transoesophageal echocardiography | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke (62·1% major stroke) | Stroke unit | Yes | 403/660 (61%) | Yes | 64·4 (13·5) | <55 and ≥55 | 38·9% |
| Force et al (2008)8 | Transoesophageal echocardiography | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke | Stroke unit | Not reported | 62/132 (47%) | Not reported | 70·7 (8·6) | ≥55 | Not reported |
| Yeung et al (1996)28 | Bubble-TCD | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke (70·5%) | Hospital admission | Yes | 116/210 (55%) | No | Men: 65 (range 12–86); Women: 63 (23–86) | ≤50, >50, and ≥70 | 51% |
| Serena et al (1998)29 | Bubble-TCD | Transient ischaemic attack or stroke (71·2%) | Neurology department | Yes | 53/203 (26%) | No | 64·8 (12·3) | <50, 51 to <70, and ≥70 | 20·9% (no temporal bone window) plus 1·9% (no Valsalva done) |
| Population-based | |||||||||
| OXVASC (2017) | Bubble-TCD | Transient ischaemic attack or non-disabling stroke (32·5%) | Stroke or transient ischaemic attack clinic service | Yes | 264/523 (50%) | Yes | 69·6 (13·4) | ≤60, >60, <70, and ≥70 | 8·6% |
TOAST=Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment. Bubble-TCD=contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler. OXVASC=Oxford Vascular Study.