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Professor Anna Ranta, Head of Department of Medicine

Profile_Anna_Ranta MD PhD FRACP FAHA FWSO

Positions

  • Head of Department, Medicine
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington
  • Consultant Neurologist, CCDHB
  • Clinical Director, National Stroke Clot Retrieval Service Improvement Programme (Ministry of Health)
  • National Stroke Registry, Clinical/academic lead and data custodian (CCDHB/Ministry of Health)
  • Clinical Leader, Stroke (Hyper-Acute - Regional/CCDHB)

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

Warach, S. J., Ranta, A., Kim, J., Song, S. S., Wallace, A., Beharry, J., … Wilson, D., … Wu, T. Y. (2023). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage with tenecteplase vs alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke: The Comparative Effectiveness of Routine Tenecteplase vs Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke (CERTAIN) collaboration. JAMA Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1449

Bravata, D. M., & Ranta, A. (2023). Artificial intelligence in clinical decisions support for stroke: Balancing opportunity with caution. Stroke, 54, 1517-1518. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.043004

Rose, D., Cavalier, A., Kam, W., Cantrell, S., Lusk, J., Schrag, M., … Wu, T. Y., Ranta, A., … Mac Grory, B. (2023). Complications of intravenous tenecteplase versus alteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis [Review]. Stroke. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.122.042335

Denison, H. J., Corbin, M., Douwes, J., Thompson, S. G., Harwood, M., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., … Levack, W., McNaughton, H., … Ranta, A. (2023). Ethnic differences in stroke outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand: A national linkage study. International Journal of Stroke. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/17474930231164024

Kim, J., Cadilhac, D. A., Thompson, S., Gommans, J., Davis, A., Barber, P. A., Fink, J., Harwood, M., Levack, W., … Ranta, A. (2023). Comparison of stroke care costs in urban and nonurban hospitals and its association with outcomes in New Zealand: A nationwide economic evaluation. Stroke, 54, 848-856. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040869

Denison, H. J., Corbin, M., Douwes, J., Thompson, S. G., Harwood, M., Davis, A., Fink, J. N., Barber, P. A., Gommans, J. H., … Levack, W., McNaughton, H., … Ranta, A. (2023). Ethnic differences in stroke outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand: A national linkage study. International Journal of Stroke. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/17474930231164024

Journal - Research Article

Garcia-Esperon, C., Wu, T. Y., Carraro da Nascimento, V., Yan, B., Kurunawai, C., Kleinig, T., … Ranta, A., … Fink, J., … on behalf of the ANZ Ultra-Long EVT Transfer Group, including Collecutt, W., & Krauss, M. (2023). Ultra-long transfers for endovascular thrombectomy: Mission impossible?: The Australia-New Zealand experience. Stroke, 54, 151-158. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.122.040480

Journal - Research Article

Kim, J., Cadilhac, D. A., Thompson, S., Gommans, J., Davis, A., Barber, P. A., Fink, J., Harwood, M., Levack, W., … Ranta, A. (2023). Comparison of stroke care costs in urban and nonurban hospitals and its association with outcomes in New Zealand: A nationwide economic evaluation. Stroke, 54, 848-856. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040869

Journal - Research Article

Meinel, T. R., Wilson, D., Gensicke, H., Scheitz, J. F., Ringleb, P., Goganau, I., … Ranta, A., … for the International DOAC-IVT, TRISP, and CRCS-K-NIH Collaboration. (2023). Intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke and recent ingestion of direct oral anticoagulants. JAMA Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4782

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, T. N., Qureshi, M. M., Klein, P., Yamagami, H., Mikulik, R., Czlonkowska, A., … Ranta, A., … on behalf of the SVIN COVID-19 Global Stroke Registry. (2023). Global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke volumes and cerebrovascular events: One-year follow-up. Neurology, 100(4), e408-e422. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000201426

Journal - Research Article

Rose, D., Cavalier, A., Kam, W., Cantrell, S., Lusk, J., Schrag, M., … Wu, T. Y., Ranta, A., … Mac Grory, B. (2023). Complications of intravenous tenecteplase versus alteplase for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis [Review]. Stroke. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.122.042335

Journal - Research Article

Warach, S. J., Ranta, A., Kim, J., Song, S. S., Wallace, A., Beharry, J., … Wilson, D., … Wu, T. Y. (2023). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage with tenecteplase vs alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke: The Comparative Effectiveness of Routine Tenecteplase vs Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke (CERTAIN) collaboration. JAMA Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1449

Journal - Research Article

Dunphy, H., Garcia-Esperon, C., Hong, J. B., Manoczki, C., Wilson, D., Chew, B. L. A., Beharry, J., … Ranta, A., Fink, J. N., & Wu, T. Y. (2022). Endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke improves and maintains function in the very elderly: A multicentre propensity score matched analysis. European Stroke Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/23969873221145778

Journal - Research Article

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

Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Thompson, S. G., Weatherall, M., & Ranta, A. (2022). Documented incontinence after stroke: A secondary analysis of a cohort study: Reducing Ethnic and Geographic Inequities to Optimise New Zealand Stroke Care (REGIONS Care). New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1567), 43-53. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Journal - Research Article

Scott, I. M., Manoczki, C., Swain, A. H., Ranjan, A., McGovern, M. G., Tyson, A. L. S., … Punter, M. M., & Ranta, A. (2022). Pre-hospital telestroke vs paramedic scores to accurately identify stroke reperfusion candidates: A cluster randomised controlled trial. Neurology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201104

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

Te Ao, B., Harwood, M., Fu, V., Weatherall, M., McPherson, K., Taylor, W. J., … Thomson, T., … Ranta, A., Hanger, C., … McNaughton, H. (2022). Economic analysis of the 'Take Charge' intervention for people following stroke: Results from a randomised trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(2), 240-250. 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. (2022). Impact and predictors of quality of life in adults diagnosed with a genetic muscle disorder: A nationwide population-based study. Quality of Life Research, 31, 1657-1666. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-03046-2

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

Thompson, S., Levack, W., Douwes, J., Girvan, J., Abernethy, G., Barber, P. A., Fink, J., … Ranta, A. (2022). Patient, carer and health worker perspectives of stroke care in New Zealand: a mixed methods survey. Disability & Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2117862

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, 8(6), 1069-1078. 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, 35(7), 1021-1031. 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

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., … 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

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

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

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