Outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: Predictors of survival

Background and purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to determin e in-hospital mortality and morbidity secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage and to analyse variables considered to be significantly associated with su rvival in these patients. Patients and methods: The study cohort consisted of 135 consecutive patient s with intracerebral hemorrhage, admitted to a large community hospital in the urban area of Vienna. The diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage was est ablished in all cases with axial computed tomography. The following variabl es were analysed: age, sex, Glasgow coma score on admission, location of he matomas, intraventricular hemorrhage, neurosurgical interventions and medic al complications. Results: Sixty-seven (49.6%) of the 135 patients died, 50 (37%) of them dur ing the first 4 days after the acute event, 13 within the 1(st) week and 4 within one month. In a multivariate analysis the risk of death was signific antly increased by the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.01), a Glasgow coma score of 6 or less (p < 0.0001) and age greater than 60 year s (p < 0.001). Gender, medical complications and surgical removal of hemorr hage with or without additional ventriculostomy did not correlate significa ntly with outcome while an infratentorial location of hematoma showed a tre nd (p < 0.15) towards a higher mortality. Conclusion: A Glasgow coma score of 6 or less on admission, age greater tha n 60 years and the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage appear to be pre dictors of mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.