Hypotension at presentation is an indicator of poor prognosis in acute intracerebral haemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
To identify frequency of hypotension in a large cohort of patients with intracerebral haemorrhage and its prognostic significance.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 920 patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Patients were divided in three groups based on Diastolic blood pressure (DBP); hypotensive group (DBP < 70 mmHg), normotensive group (DBP; 71-90 mmHg) and hypertensive group (DBP > 90 mmHg).


RESULTS
Of the total patients with ICH, 7% (64) presented with hypotension, 13% (120) were normotensive and 80% (736) were hypertensive. In the hypotensive group, 37% (24) patients died as compared to 25%(30) in normotensive group and 25% (182) in hypertensive group (p = 0.03). Hypotension at presentation, thalamic and lobar haemorrhages were predictors of poor outcome. Patients with diastolic BP of less than 70 were significantly more likely to die than with DBP 71-90 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI; 1.1-2.9, p = 0.03). This relationship was still significant after adjusting for age, sex, history of presentation, coma at presentation and location of haemorrhage (OR = 1.45, 95% CI; 1.0-2.2, p = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that hypotension at presentation is a predictor of poor outcome in patients with ICH. Patients with diastolic blood pressure less than 70 are more likely to have a fatal outcome as compared to those with normal blood pressure.
Wasay
Mohammad
M
Department of Neurology and Community Heath Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
Khealani
Bhojo A
BA
Shafqat
Saad
S
Kamal
Ayesha
A
Syed
Nadir Ali
NA
D000208:Acute Disease; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors