Symptomatologic versus neuroimaging predictors of in-hospital survival after intracerebral haemorrhage.

Abstract

Symptomatological prediction of Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) mortality is a simple and effective method compared to pathological predictors. In this study we considered consciousness level as an easily measurable predictor and compared it to haemorrhage location, intraventricular penetration and haemorrhage size derived from Computerized Tomography (CT) to predict mortality using a parametric survival analysis model. Two hundred and thirty eight ICH patients from a neurology hospital ward were enrolled into this comparative study. Patient history was documented with respect to mortality and a questionnaire outlining background variables and medical history was completed for them. Consciousness level was clinically evaluated by a physician while haemorrhage size and location were determined via computerized tomographic scanning reports. Data were entered into the computer and analyzed according to the Weibull parametric survival analysis model using STATA 8 statistical software. Males constituted 47.1% of the 238 patients, 52.9% were females. The age range of the patients varied from 13 to 88 years, with a mean age of 62.4 +/- 13.6 (Mean +/- SD). Half of the patients survived more than 20 days. Using the Weibull regression model, the only significant independent symptomatological predictor of mortality was found to be the level of consciousness. Cumulative hazard during the 90 days was compared for different levels of consciousness. Application of Weibull to pathological predictors of ICH mortality showed that the two independent predictors were haemorrhage size and intraventricular penetration. Results of statistical modelling didn't provide evidence of priority for pathological predictors of survival compared to easily measurable levels of consciousness as a symptomatological predictor. Easily measurable symptoms of level of consciousness can be used as a survival predictor of stroke due to intra-cerebral haemorrhage when compared to pathological indicators.