title: The design, rationale, and baseline characteristics of a nationwide cohort registry in China: blood pressure and clinical outcome in TIA or ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between poststroke blood pressure (BP) and clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke (IS) is still controversial. However, there is no large BP database for IS or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in China. This study aims to describe the rationale, study design, and baseline characteristics of a nationwide BP database in IS or TIA patients in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BOSS (blood pressure and clinical outcome in TIA or ischemic stroke) study was a hospital-based, prospective cohort study aiming to assess BP parameters and clinical outcome in IS/TIA patients. BP parameters were based on office BP, ambulatory BP, and home BP. Clinical outcomes included stroke recurrence, combined vascular events, and disability. Electronic case-report forms were used to record baseline and follow-up data. The patients were followed up for clinical outcomes at 3 months through face-to-face interview and at 12 months by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between October 2012 and February 2014, the BOSS registry recruited 2,608 patients from 61 hospitals, with a mean age of 62.5 years, 32.4% of whom were female, 88.9% with an entry diagnosis of IS, and 86% diagnosed with hypertension. The rates of patients lost-to-follow-up were 3.1% at 3 months and 5.1% at 1 year; 93% of patients completed ambulatory BP monitoring during hospitalization and 94.7% finished a 3-month BP diary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BOSS registry will provide important evidence about BP management in the acute phase and secondary prevention for IS/TIA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Xuewei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Hongqiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Yuesong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Xingquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing.
authors.forename: Aoshuang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases.
authors.forename: Yilong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: blood pressure; ischemic stroke; transient ischemic attack