After a TIA
ABCD2 score calculator
ABCD2 is a score clinicians use after a transient ischemic attack (TIA, often called a mini-stroke) has been evaluated, to estimate the chance of a stroke in the next few days. It is not a way to decide whether you need care.
About the TIA your care team evaluated
For people whose TIA has already been checked by a doctor and who want to understand the score. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
What you will see
The ABCD2 score from 0 to 7 and the 2-day stroke risk seen in the original study for that score group.
Educational only, not medical advice. TIA symptoms need emergency care whatever the score: call 911.
Source
Johnston SC et al., Lancet 2007 (the score, its points and the 2-day risk groups, from the published abstract).
Validated in
Built from two earlier groups of 1,916 patients and checked in four independent groups of 2,893 patients diagnosed with a TIA in emergency departments and clinics in the US and UK.
Limits
For clinicians after a TIA has been diagnosed. Not a symptom checker, not a diagnosis of TIA, and not a reason to wait or stay home: a low score does not mean low risk. It does not replace brain and blood vessel imaging.
A low score does not mean you can wait
A TIA needs urgent evaluation whatever the score. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says to get emergency medical care right away for these symptoms (NINDS). A low score does not mean low risk, and only a medical team can tell a TIA from a stroke or from something else.
An American Heart Association scientific statement reports that the 90-day stroke risk after a TIA can be as high as 17.8%, with almost half of those strokes in the first 2 days (AHA 2023). It describes finding high-risk patients through full protocols that include early imaging of the brain and its blood vessels and careful use of risk scales (AHA 2023).
The points
| Letter | Item | Points |
|---|---|---|
| A | Age 60 or older | 1 |
| B | Blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg or higher | 1 |
| C | Clinical features: weakness on one side | 2 |
| C | Clinical features: trouble speaking without weakness | 1 |
| D | Duration 60 minutes or longer | 2 |
| D | Duration 10 to 59 minutes | 1 |
| D | Diabetes | 1 |
Points as published by Johnston and colleagues (Johnston 2007). The paper lists the items that score points; other symptoms and episodes under 10 minutes add none in our reading of that list.
The study figures
| Score | Group in the study | Stroke within 2 days in the study | Share of patients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Low | 1.0% | 34% |
| 4 to 5 | Moderate | 4.1% | 45% |
| 6 to 7 | High | 8.1% | 21% |
These are overall figures from the original study, pooling its derivation and validation groups (4,809 patients) (Johnston 2007). They are averages, not a forecast for one person. The authors concluded that patients at high risk need immediate evaluation (Johnston 2007).
Know the warning signs
Use B.E. F.A.S.T. to spot a stroke: Balance loss, Eye changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech trouble, Time to call 911 (CDC).
To see which long-term stroke risk factors apply to you, use the stroke risk factor check. If you have atrial fibrillation, read CHA2DS2-VASc explained and the HAS-BLED bleeding risk score.
Sources
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH). Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/transient-ischemic-attack
- Johnston SC, Rothwell PM, Nguyen-Huynh MN, et al. Validation and refinement of scores to predict very early stroke risk after transient ischaemic attack. Lancet. 2007;369(9558):283-292. PMID 17258668. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17258668/
- Amin HP, Madsen TE, Bravata DM, et al. Diagnosis, Workup, Risk Reduction of Transient Ischemic Attack in the Emergency Department Setting: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stroke. 2023;54(3):e109-e121. PMID 36655570. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36655570/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and Symptoms of Stroke. www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs-symptoms/index.html
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Spotted an error? See About.