Prehospital Blood Pressure and Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure (BP) is associated with poor outcome in acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Little is known about the predictive value of prehospital BP in intracerebral hemorrhage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between prehospital BP and clinical and radiological outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective, hospital-based study of all adult intracerebral hemorrhage patients admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset to a large primary stroke centre during 2012 to 2019. The first prehospital and on-admission BP were recorded as systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. The absolute differences between prehospital and on-admission BP were calculated (BPchange). Primary outcomes were in-hospital death, early neurological deterioration, and hematoma expansion. Associations between prehospital BP, BPchange, and outcomes were explored by regression with adjustment for relevant confounders. RESULTS: We included 426 patients aged median 76 (interquartile range 67-85) years and 203 (48%) were female. Median prehospital systolic BP was 179 (interquartile range 158-197) and diastolic BP was 100 (interquartile range 86-112) mm Hg. In-hospital death occurred in 121/426 (28%), early neurological deterioration in 107/295 (36%), and hematoma expansion in 50/185 (27%) patients. There were linear associations between 5 mm Hg increment of prehospital systolic BP (odds ratio 1.06, [95% CI, 1.01-1.12]) and mean arterial pressure (odds ratio 1.08, [95% CI, 1.01-1.15]) and in-hospital death, and between 5 mm Hg increment of prehospital diastolic BP (odds ratio 1.10, [95% CI, 1.00-1.21]) and mean arterial pressure (odds ratio 1.09, [95% CI, 1.00-1.18]) and hematoma expansion. There was a nonlinear association between prehospital systolic BP and in-hospital death. No consistent associations between prehospital BPchange and outcomes were found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage, elevated prehospital BP parameters were associated with in-hospital death and hematoma expansion. Changes in prehospital BP were not consistently associated with outcome. A possible U-shaped association between prehospital BP and in-hospital death needs further investigation.

Antithrombotic treatment after intracerebral hemorrhage: Surveys among stroke physicians in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.

Background and Aims: It is unclear whether patients with previous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) should receive antithrombotic treatment to prevent ischemic events. We assessed stroke physicians' opinions about this, and their views on randomizing patients in trials assessing this question. Methods: We conducted three web-based surveys among stroke physicians in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. Results: Eighty-nine of 205 stroke physicians (43%) responded to the Scandinavian survey, 161 of 180 (89%) to the UK antiplatelet survey, and 153 of 289 (53%) to the UK anticoagulant survey. In Scandinavia, 19 (21%) stroke physicians were uncertain about antiplatelet treatment after ICH for ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 21 (24%) for prior myocardial infarction. In the United Kingdom, 116 (77%) were uncertain for ischemic stroke or TIA and 115 (717%) for ischemic heart disease. In Scandinavia, 32 (36%) were uncertain about anticoagulant treatment after ICH for atrial fibrillation, and 26 (29%) for recurrent deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. In the United Kingdom, 145 (95%) were uncertain about anticoagulants after ICH in at least some cases. In both regions combined, 191 of 250 (76%) would consider randomizing ICH survivors in a trial of starting versus avoiding antiplatelets, and 176 of 242 (73%) in a trial of starting versus avoiding anticoagulants. Conclusion: Considerable proportions of stroke physicians in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom were uncertain about antithrombotic treatment after ICH. A clear majority would consider randomizing patients in trials assessing this question. These findings support the need for such trials.

Antithrombotic Treatment, Prehospital Blood Pressure, and Outcomes in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background In acute intracerebral hemorrhage, both elevated blood pressure (BP) and antithrombotic treatment are associated with poor outcome. Our aim was to explore interactions between antithrombotic treatment and prehospital BP. Methods and Results This observational, retrospective study included adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage diagnosed by computed tomography within 24 hours, admitted to a primary stroke center during 2012 to 2019. The first recorded prehospital/ambulance systolic and diastolic BP were analyzed per 5 mm Hg increment. Clinical outcomes were in-hospital mortality, shift on the modified Rankin Scale at discharge, and mortality at 90 days. Radiological outcomes were initial hematoma volume and hematoma expansion. Antithrombotic (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant) treatment was analyzed both together and separately. Modification of associations between prehospital BP and outcomes by antithrombotic treatment was explored by multivariable regression with interaction terms. The study included 200 women and 220 men, median age 76 (interquartile range, 68-85) years. Antithrombotic drugs were used by 252 of 420 (60%) patients. Compared with patients without, patients with antithrombotic treatment had significantly stronger associations between high prehospital systolic BP and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 versus 0.99, P for interaction 0.021), shift on the modified Rankin Scale (common OR, 1.08 versus 0.96, P for interaction 0.001), and hematoma volume (coef. 0.03 versus -0.03, P for interaction 0.011). Conclusions In patients with acute, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, antithrombotic treatment modifies effects of prehospital BP. Compared with patients without, patients with antithrombotic treatment have poorer outcomes with higher prehospital BP. These findings may have implications for future studies on early BP lowering in intracerebral hemorrhage.

STudy of Antithrombotic Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many patients with prior intracerebral haemorrhage have indications for antithrombotic treatment with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs for prevention of ischaemic events, but it is uncertain whether such treatment is beneficial after intracerebral haemorrhage. STudy of Antithrombotic Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage will assess (i) the effects of long-term antithrombotic treatment on the risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage and occlusive vascular events after intracerebral haemorrhage and (ii) whether imaging findings, like cerebral microbleeds, modify these effects. METHODS: STudy of Antithrombotic Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage is a multicentre, randomised controlled, open trial of starting versus avoiding antithrombotic treatment after non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage, in patients with an indication for antithrombotic treatment. Participants with vascular disease as an indication for antiplatelet treatment are randomly allocated to antiplatelet treatment or no antithrombotic treatment. Participants with atrial fibrillation as an indication for anticoagulant treatment are randomly allocated to anticoagulant treatment or no anticoagulant treatment. Cerebral CT or MRI is performed before randomisation. Duration of follow-up is at least two years. The primary outcome is recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. Secondary outcomes include occlusive vascular events and death. Assessment of clinical outcomes is performed blinded to treatment allocation. Target recruitment is 500 participants.Trial status: Recruitment to STudy of Antithrombotic Treatment after IntraCerebral Haemorrhage is on-going. On 30 April 2020, 44 participants had been enrolled in 31 participating hospitals. An individual patient-data meta-analysis is planned with similar randomised trials.