MD, PhD, FRACP
Positions
- Head of Department, Medicine
- Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington
- Consultant Neurologist, CCDHB
- National Clinical Leaders, Stroke (Ministry of Health)
- Stroke Lead, CCDHB
- Stroke Lead, Central Region
Contact details
Department of Medicine
University of Otago Wellington
PO Box 7343
Wellington 6242
New Zealand
Tel +64 4 806 1031
Email anna.ranta@otago.ac.nz
Research Expertise and Interest
- Stroke (TIA, reperfusion, telestroke, to a lesser degree stroke rehabilitation)
- Use of Registries and Health administrative data
- Health Service Delivery Research
- Health Economics
- Neuroepidemiology and workforce
Associate Professor Ranta is interested in supervising postgraduate students in any of the research areas listed above. You can contact her directly.
Current Projects
Associate Professor Ranta is the PI of the ongoing REGIONS Care Study. This is a nationwide HRC funded project (HRC 17/037 -$1.2 million)) that incorporates a stroke audit of NZ stroke services (acute and rehabilitation) and extended 1-year follow-up and data linkage with administrative data and focus groups to explore ethnic and geographic inequities in stroke care access and outcomes. The results of this project will advise future NZ stroke strategy to achieve the best outcomes for people with stroke.
She is also the co-PI for the B-SAFE Clinical Trial. This is a nationwide HRC funded project (HRC 16/330) looking at the impact of electronic decision support and the use of cardiac biomarkers on appropriate anticoagulation and patient outcomes. This study is specifically looking at patients with atrial fibrillation managed in primary care.
She is a named investigator for the Take Charge after Stroke. This is a nationwide HRC funded project (HRC 15/297) looking at the impact of motivational interviewing following stroke on stroke outcomes. Role on project: Co-investigator
Other ongoing project topics include telestroke, secondary prevention following TIA, blood pressure optimisation following stroke, epidemiology of genetic muscle disorders, international collaboration in neuro and stroke epidemiology (GBD), and international stroke service provision (Lancet Commission for Stroke).
Publications
Harwood, M., Ranta, A., Thompson, S., Ranta, S., Brewer, K., Gommans, J., … Fink, J., … Levack, W., & Douwes, J. (2022). Barriers to optimal stroke service care and solutions: A qualitative study engaging people with stroke and their whānau. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1556), 81-93. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Thompson, S. G., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., Cadilhac, D. A., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., … Levack, W., … Ranta, A. (2022). Geographic disparities in stroke outcomes and service access: A prospective observational study. Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200526
English, C., Hill, K., Cadilhac, D. A., Hackett, M. L., Lannin, N. A., Middleton, S., Ranta, A., … Campbell, B. C. V. (2022). Living clinical guidelines for stroke: Updates, challenges and opportunities. Medical Journal of Australia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51520
Fushida-Hardy, N., Kim, A., Leighs, A., Thompson, S. G., Tyson, A., Barber, P. A., & Ranta, A. (2022). Stroke reperfusion treatment trends in New Zealand: 2019 & 2020. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1551), 68-80. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Thompson, S. G., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., Cadilhac, D. A., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., Harwood, M., Levack, W., McNaughton, H., … Denison, H., … Wilson, A., Douwes, J., & Ranta, A. (2022). The impact of ethnicity on stroke care access and patient outcomes: A New Zealand nationwide observational study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 20, 100358. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100358
Fushida-Hardy, N., Kim, A., Leighs, A., Thompson, S. G., Tyson, A., Barber, P. A., & Ranta, A. (2022). Stroke reperfusion treatment trends in New Zealand: 2019 & 2020. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1551), 68-80. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Harwood, M., Ranta, A., Thompson, S., Ranta, S., Brewer, K., Gommans, J., … Fink, J., … Levack, W., & Douwes, J. (2022). Barriers to optimal stroke service care and solutions: A qualitative study engaging people with stroke and their whānau. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1556), 81-93. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Shahjouei, S., Li, J., Koza, E., Abedi, V., Sadr, A. V., Chen, Q., … Ranta, A., & Zand, R. (2022). Risk of subsequent stroke among patients receiving outpatient vs inpatient care for transient ischemic attack: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2136644. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36644
Journal - Research Article
Thompson, S. G., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., Cadilhac, D. A., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., Harwood, M., Levack, W., McNaughton, H., … Denison, H., … Wilson, A., Douwes, J., & Ranta, A. (2022). The impact of ethnicity on stroke care access and patient outcomes: A New Zealand nationwide observational study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 20, 100358. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100358
Journal - Research Article
Thompson, S. G., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., Cadilhac, D. A., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., … Levack, W., … Ranta, A. (2022). Geographic disparities in stroke outcomes and service access: A prospective observational study. Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200526
Journal - Research Article
Cadilhac, D. A., Bagot, K. L., Demaerschalk, B. M., Hubert, G., Schwamm, L., Watkins, C. L., … Ranta, A., … Bladin, C. F. (2021). Establishment of an internationally agreed minimum data set for acute telestroke. Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare, 27(9), 582-589. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19899262
Journal - Research Article
Huang, L., Bourke, D., & Ranta, A. (2021). The impact of an online adult headache guideline on headache referrals to neurology clinic. Internal Medicine Journal, 51, 1251-1254. doi: 10.1111/imj.14959
Journal - Research Article
Jones, K. M., Anand, A., Bright, C., O'Grady, G., Rodrigues, M. J., Ranta, A., … on behalf of the MD-PREV study group. (2021). Coping in children and adolescents with a genetic muscle disorder: Findings from a population-based study. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. Advance online publication. doi: 10.3233/jnd-200564
Journal - Research Article
McNaughton, H., Weatherall, M., McPherson, K., Fu, V., Taylor, W. J., McRae, A., Thomson, T., … Harwood, M., Ranta, A., Hanger, C., & Riley, J. (2021). The effect of the Take Charge intervention on mood, motivation, activation and risk factor management: Analysis of secondary data from the Taking Charge after Stroke (TaCAS) trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0269215521993648
Journal - Research Article
Nogueira, R., Qureshi, M. M., Abdalkader, M., Martins, S. O., Yamagami, H., Qiu, Z., … Ranta, A., … Wu, T. Y.-H., … on behalf of the SVIN COVID-19 Global Stroke Registry. (2021). Global impact of COVID-19 on stroke care and IV thrombolysis. Neurology, 96(23), e2824-e2838. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000011885
Journal - Research Article
Sasanejad, P., Hezarkhani, L. A., Arsang-Jang, S., Tsivgoulis, G., Ghoreishi, A., Kristian, B., … Ranta, A., … Azarpazhooh, M. R. (2021). Safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in ischemic stroke patients with COVID-19: CASCADE initiative. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 30(12), 106121. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106121
Journal - Research Article
Shahjouei, S., Tsivgoulis, G., Farahmand, G., Koza, E., Mowla, A., Sadr, A. V., … Ranta, A., Punter, M., … Zand, R. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 and stroke characteristics: A report from the multinational COVID-19 stroke study group. Stroke, 52, e117. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.032927
Journal - Research Article
Te Ao, B., Harwood, M., Fu, V., Weatherall, M., McPherson, K., Taylor, W. J., … Thomson, T., … Ranta, A., Hanger, C., … McNaughton, H. (2021). Economic analysis of the 'Take Charge' intervention for people following stroke: Results from a randomised trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/02692155211040727
Journal - Research Article
Theadom, A., Rodrigues, M., Ranta, A., Poke, G., Love, D., Jones, K., … Hammond-Tooke, G., … on behalf of the MDPrev Research Group. (2021). Impact and predictors of quality of life in adults diagnosed with a genetic muscle disorder: A nationwide population-based study. Quality of Life Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-03046-2
Journal - Research Article
Wu, T. Y., Myall, D., Palmer, D., Beharry, J., Lim, J. Y., Mason, D. F., … Duncan, R., Weaver, J., Collecutt, W., Lim, A., Hurrell, M. A., … Ranta, A., Fink, J. N., & Le Heron, C. (2021). Increased large vessel occlusive strokes after the Christchurch March 15, 2019, terror attack. Neurology, 96(4), 171-174. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011341
Journal - Research Article
Barber, P. A., Wu, T. Y., & Ranta, A. (2020). Stroke reperfusion therapy following dabigatran reversal with idarucizumab in a national cohort. Neurology, 94, e1968-e1972. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000009155
Journal - Research Article
Cadilhac, D. A., Kim, J., Wilson, A., Berge, E., Patel, A., Ali, M., … Ranta, A., … on behalf of the ESO Health Economics Working group. (2020). Improving economic evaluations in stroke: A report from the ESO Health Economics Working Group. European Stroke Journal, 5(2), 184-192. doi: 10.1177/2396987319897466
Journal - Research Article
Fu, V., Weatherall, M., McPherson, K., Taylor, W., McRae, A., Thomson, T., … Harwood, M., Ranta, A., Hanger, C., … McNaughton, H. (2020). Taking charge after stroke: A randomized controlled trial of a person-centered, self-directed rehabilitation intervention. International Journal of Stroke, 15(9), 954-964. doi: 10.1177/1747493020915144
Journal - Research Article
Ghoreishi, A., Arsang-Jang, S., Sabaa-Ayoun, Z., Yassi, N., Sylaja, P. N., Akbari, Y., … Ranta, A., … Azrapazhooh, M. R. (2020). Stroke care trends during COVID-19 pandemic in Zanjan Province, Iran: From the CASCADE Initiative: Statistical analysis plan and preliminary results. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 29(12), 105321. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105321
Journal - Research Article
Hedlund, F., Leighs, A., Barber, P. A., Lundström, E., Wu, T. Y., & Ranta, A. (2020). Trends in stroke reperfusion treatment and outcomes in New Zealand. Internal Medicine Journal, 50, 1367-1372. doi: 10.1111/imj.14682
Journal - Research Article
Kao, A., Lanford, J., Wong, L.-K., & Ranta, A. (2020). Do clinical nurse specialist led stroke follow-up clinics reduce post-stroke hospital readmissions and recurrent vascular events? Internal Medicine Journal, 50, 1202-1207. doi: 10.1111/imj.14707
Journal - Research Article
Lim, A., Singhal, S., Lavallee, P., Amarenco, P., Rothwell, P. M., Albers, G., … Ranta, A., … Phan, T. (2020). An international report on the adaptations of rapid transient ischaemic attack pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 29(11), 105228. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105228
Journal - Research Article
Samuels, I., Wang, M. T. M., Chong, K. P., Davis, A., Ranta, A., Barber, P. A., on behalf of the Northern Region Stroke Network. (2020). Ethnic differences in access to stroke reperfusion therapy in Northern New Zealand. Neuroepidemiology, 54, 427-431. doi: 10.1159/000510505
Journal - Research Article
Shahjouei, S., Naderi, S., Li, J., Khan, A., Chaudhary, D., Farahmand, G., … Ranta, A., Punter, M., … Zand, R. (2020). Risk of stroke in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: A multinational study. EBioMedicine, 59, 102939. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102939
Journal - Research Article
Thompson, S., Barber, P. A., Fink, J., Gommans, J., Davis, A., Harwood, M., Douwes, J., … McNaughton, H., … Wilson, A., Denison, H., … Levack, W., & Ranta, A. (2020). New Zealand hospital stroke service provision. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1526), 18-30. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
GBD 2015 Neurological Disorders Collaborator Group, including Poulton, R. G., & Ranta, A. (2019). Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990–2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurology, 18(5), 459-480. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30299-5
Journal - Research Article
Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator Network, including Ranta, A. (2019). Past, present, and future of global health financing: A review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 195 countries, 1995-2050. Lancet, 393(10187), 2233-2260. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)30841-4
Journal - Research Article
Godolphin, P. J., Bath, P. M., Algra, A., Berge, E., Brown, M. M., Chalmers, J., … Ranta, A., … and on behalf of the Adjudicating Outcomes in Stroke Trials Collaboration. (2019). Outcome assessment by central adjudicators versus site investigators in stroke trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Stroke, 50(8), 2187-2196. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.119.025019
Journal - Research Article
Gordon, C., Campbell, R., & Ranta, A. (2019). Impact of the national public 'FAST' campaigns. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1507), 48-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Theadom, A., Rodrigues, M., Poke, G., O'Grady, G., Love, D., Hammond-Tooke, G., … Ranta, A., … On Behalf of the MDPrev Research Group. (2019). A nationwide, population-based prevalence study of genetic muscle disorders. Neuroepidemiology, 52, 128-135. doi: 10.1159/000494115
Journal - Research Article
Thompson, S., Ranta, A., Porter, K., & Bondi, N. (2019). How much rehabilitation are our patients with stroke receiving? New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1499), 49-55. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Bath, P. M., Woodhouse, L. J., Appleton, J. P., Beridze, M., Christensen, H., Dineen, R. A., … Ranta, A., … Sprigg, N. (2018). Triple versus guideline antiplatelet therapy to prevent recurrence after acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack: The TARDIS RCT. Health Technology Assessment, 22(48), 1-76. doi: 10.3310/hta22480
Journal - Research Article
Bath, P. M., Woodhouse, L. J., Appleton, J. P., Beridze, M., Christensen, H., Dineen, R. A., … Ranta, A., … for the TARDIS Investigators. (2018). Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel, and dipyridamole versus clopidogrel alone or aspirin and dipyridamole in patients with acute cerebral ischaemia (TARDIS): A randomised, open-label, phase 3 superiority trial. Lancet, 391(10), 850-859. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32849-0
Journal - Research Article
GBD 2016 Headache Collaborators, including Ranta, A. (2018). Global, regional, and national burden of migraine and tension-type headache, 1990-2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurology, 17(11), 954-976. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30322-3
Journal - Research Article
GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, including Crump, J. A., & Ranta, A. (2018). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet, 392(10159), 1789-1858. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32279-7
Journal - Research Article
Jones, K. M., Bhattacharjee, R., Krishnamurthi, R., Blanton, S., Barker-Collo, S., Theadom, A., … Ranta, A., … Feigin, V. L. (2018). Determining the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a stroke instructional and educational DVD in a multinational context: A randomized controlled pilot study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 32(8), 1086-1097. doi: 10.1177/0269215518777565
Journal - Research Article
Jones, K. M., O'Grady, G., Rodrigues, M. J., Ranta, A., Roxburgh, R. H., Love, D. R., … on behalf of the MD-PREV study group. (2018). Impacts for children living with genetic muscle disorders and their parents: Findings from a population-based study. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases, 5(3), 341-352. doi: 10.3233/jnd-170287
Journal - Research Article
Langton Burnell, A., Ranta, A., Wu, T., Fink, J., McGuinness, B., Caldwell, J., Collecutt, W., … Barber, P. A. (2018). Endovascular clot retrieval for acute ischaemic stroke in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1484), 13-18. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Ranta, A. (2018). Projected stroke volumes to provide a 10-year direction for New Zealand stroke services. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1477), 15-28. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Ranta, A., & Busch, S. (2018). Impact of discontinuation of telestroke: The Nelson experience. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1477), 29-34. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Ranta, A., Dovey, S., Gommans, J., Tilyard, M., & Weatherall, M. (2018). Impact of general practitioner transient ischemic attack training on 90-day stroke outcomes: Secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 27(7), 2014-2018. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2018.02.064
Journal - Research Article
Bath, P. M. W., Appleton, J. P., Beridze, M., Christensen, H., Dineen, R. A., Duley, L., … Ranta, A., … Sprigg, N. (2017). Baseline characteristics of the 3096 patients recruited into the ‘Triple Antiplatelets for Reducing Dependency after Ischemic Stroke’ trial. International Journal of Stroke, 12(5), 524-538. doi: 10.1177/1747493016677988
Journal - Research Article
Bergin, P. S., Beghi, E., Sadleir, L. G., Brockington, A., Tripathi, M., Richardson, M. P., … Rosemergy, I., … on behalf of the EpiNet Study Group, including Ranta, A. (2017). EpiNet as a way of involving more physicians and patients in epilepsy research: Validation study and accreditation process. Epilepsia Open, 2(1), 20-31. doi: 10.1002/epi4.12033
Journal - Research Article
Bergin, P. S., Beghi, E., Sadleir, L. G., Tripathi, M., Richardson, M. P., Bianchi, E., … EpiNet Study Group, including Ranta, A. (2017). Do neurologists around the world agree when diagnosing epilepsy?: Results of an international EpiNet study. Epilepsy Research, 139, 43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.10.014
Journal - Research Article
GBD 2015 Neurological Disorders Collaborator Group, including Poulton, R. G., & Ranta, A. (2017). Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders during 1990-2015: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet Neurology, 16(11), 877-897. doi: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30299-5
Journal - Research Article
Hammond, N., & Ranta, A. (2017). The yield of head computed tomography in patients with new onset of transient headaches. Internal Medicine Journal, 47(10), 1141-1146. doi: 10.1111/imj.13517
Journal - Research Article
Liu, Q., Barber, P. A., Abernethy, G., & Ranta, A. (2017). Provision of stroke thrombolysis services in New Zealand: Changes between 2011 and 2016. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1453), 57-62. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Liu, Q., Ranta, A., Abernethy, G., & Barber, P. A. (2017). Trends in New Zealand stroke thrombolysis treatment rates. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1453), 50-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Article
Ranta, A., Lanford, J., Busch, S., Providence, C., Iniesta, I., Rosemergy, I., … Gommans, J. (2017). Impact and implementation of a sustainable regional telestroke network. Internal Medicine Journal, 47(11), 1270-1275. doi: 10.1111/imj.13557
Journal - Research Article
Ranta, A., Weatherall, M., Gommans, J., Tilyard, M., Odea, D., & Dovey, S. (2017). Appropriateness of general practitioner imaging requests for transient ischaemic attack patients: Secondary analysis of a cluster randomised controlled trial. Journal of Primary Health Care, 9(2), 131-135. doi: 10.1071/HC17005
Journal - Research Article