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Associate Professor Anna Ranta, Head of Department of Medicine

Profile_Anna_Ranta MD, PhD, FRACP

Positions

  • Head of Department, Medicine
  • Associate 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).

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Publications

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

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

Cadilhac, D. A., Bagot, K. L., Demaerschalk, B. M., Hubert, G., Schwamm, L., Watkins, C. L., … Ranta, A., … Bladin, C. F. (2020). Establishment of an internationally agreed minimum data set for acute telestroke. Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19899262

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

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

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

Cadilhac, D. A., Bagot, K. L., Demaerschalk, B. M., Hubert, G., Schwamm, L., Watkins, C. L., … Ranta, A., … Bladin, C. F. (2020). Establishment of an internationally agreed minimum data set for acute telestroke. Journal of Telemedicine & Telecare. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/1357633X19899262

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

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

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

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

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

Hedlund, F., Leighs, A., Barber, P. A., Lundstrom, E., Wu, T. Y., & Ranta, A. (2019). Trends in stroke reperfusion treatment and outcomes in New Zealand. Internal Medicine Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/imj.14682

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

Kao, A., Lanford, J., Wong, L.-K., & Ranta, A. (2019). Do clinical nurse specialist led stroke follow-up clinics reduce post-stroke hospital readmissions and recurrent vascular events? Internal Medicine Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/imj.14707

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barber, P. A., Krishnamurthi, R., Parag, V., Anderson, N. E., Ranta, A., Kilfoyle, D., … for the ARCOS IV Study Group. (2016). Incidence of transient ischemic attack in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2011 to 2012. Stroke, 47(9), 2183-2188. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.116.014010

McAulay-Powell, C., & Ranta, A. (2016). The Australian and New Zealand regional neurology training survey. Internal Medicine Journal, 46(6), 742-744. doi: 10.1111/imj.13103

Ranta, A., & Barber, P. A. (2016). Transient ischemic attack service provision: A review of available service models. Neurology, 86(10), 947-953. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002339

Joshi, P., Fink, J., Barber, P. A., Davis, A., Lanford, J., Seymour, A., … Busby, W., … Ranta, A. (2016). Stroke thrombolysis in New Zealand: Data from the first 6 months of the New Zealand Thrombolysis Register. New Zealand Medical Journal, 129(1438), 42-47. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Sadleir, L. G., Paterson, S., Smith, K. R., Redshaw, N., Ranta, A., Kalnins, R., … Scheffer, I. E. (2015). Myoclonic Occipital Photosensitive Epilepsy with Dystonia (MOPED): A familial epilepsy syndrome. Epilepsy Research, 114, 98-105. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2015.04.014

Ranta, A., Tiwari, P., Mottershead, J., Abernethy, D., Simpson, M., Brickell, K., … Frith, R. (2015). New Zealand's neurologist workforce: A pragmatic analysis of demand, supply and future projections. New Zealand Medical Journal, 128(1419). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Ranta, A., Dovey, S., Weatherall, M., O'Dea, D., Gommans, J., & Tilyard, M. (2015). Cluster randomised controlled trial of TIA electronic decision support in primary care. Neurology, 84(15), 1545-1551. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001472

The TARDIS Trial Investigators, including Ranta, A. (2015). Safety and effficacy of intensive vs. guideline antiplatelet therapy in high-risk patients with recent ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack: Rationale and design of the Triple Antiplatelets for Reducing Dependency after Ischaemic Stroke (TARDIS) trial (ISRCTN47823388). International Journal of Stroke, 10(7), 1159-1165. doi: 10.1111/ijs.12538

Lavin, T. L., & Ranta, A. (2014). Transient Ischameic Attack/Stroke Electronic Decision Support: A 14-month safety audit. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 23(2), 267-270. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.02.022

Ranta, A., Yang, C.-F., Funnell, M., Cariga, P., Murphy-Rahal, C., & Cogger, N. (2014). Utility of a primary care based transient ischaemic attack electronic decision support tool: A prospective sequential comparison. BMC Family Practice, 15, 86. doi: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-86

Brownlee, W., Ranta, A., Dale-Gandar, J., Bennett, P., Gommans, J., Fink, J., & Barber, P. A. (2014). Changes in the provision of transient ischaemic attack services in New Zealand 2008 to 2013. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1390). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Ranta, A. (2013). Transient ischaemic attack and stroke risk: Pilot of a primary care electronic decision support tool. Journal of Primary Health Care, 5(2), 138-140.

Ranta, A., & Cariga, P. (2013). Who should manage transient ischemic attacks? A comparison between stroke experts, generalists, and electronic decision support. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1372). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Ranta, A., Chan, C., Rump, D., & Cariga, P. (2012). Safety and efficacy of stroke thrombolysis at a secondary provincial hospital in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1358). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Cariga, P., Huang, W. H. C., & Ranta, A. (2011). Safety and efficiency of non-contact first specialist assessment in neurology. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1347). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1347/4989/content.pdf

Ranta, A., Naik, D., Cariga, P., Matthews, T., McGonigal, G., Thomson, T., … Mossman, S., … Evans, R., Abernethy, D., Lee, Y., … Haas, L. (2010). Carotid endarterectomy: A Southern North Island regional consensus statement. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1323). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1323/4360/content.pdf

Bergin, P. S., Ip, T., Sheehan, R., Frith, R. W., Sadleir, L. G., McGrath, N., Ranta, A., & Walker, E. B. (2010). Using the Internet to recruit patients for epilepsy trials: Results of a New Zealand pilot study. Epilepsia, 51(5), 868-873. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02393.x

Wittmann, D. H., & Wittmann, A. (1998). Scope and limitations of antimicrobial therapy of sepsis in surgery. Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery, 383(1), 15-25. doi: 10.1007/s004230050087

Wittmann, M. M., Wittmann, A., & Wittmann, D. H. (1996). AIDS, emergency operations, and infection control. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 17(8), 532-538. doi: 10.1017/S0195941700004768

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Journal - Research Other

Krishnamurthi, R., Hale, L., Barker-Collo, S., Theadom, A., Bhattacharjee, R., George, A., … Ranta, A., Waters, D., … Feigin, V. (2019). Mobile technology for primary stroke prevention: A proof-of-concept pilot randomized controlled trial [Brief report]. Stroke, 50(1), 196-198. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.023058

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