A Population-Based Study of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Survivors' Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated 3-month neurologic, functional, cognitive, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) overall, and by sex and ethnicity in a population-based study.

METHODS: Spontaneous ICH patients were identified from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project (November 2008 to December 2013). Outcomes included neurologic (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: range 0-42), functional (activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living score: range 1-4, higher worse), cognitive (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MSE]: range 0-100), and QOL (short-form stroke-specific QOL scale: range 0-5, higher better). Ethnic and sex differences were assessed with Tobit regression adjusted for age, sex, or ethnicity, and presenting Glasgow coma scale.

RESULTS: A total of 245 patients completed baseline interviews, with 103 (42%) dying prior to follow-up, leaving 142 eligible for outcome assessment. Three-month follow-up was completed in 100 (neurologic), 107 (functional), 79 (cognitive), and 83 (QOL) participants. Median age was 66 years (interquartile range 58.0-77.0). Cognitive outcomes were worse in Mexican Americans (MA) compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW) after multivariable adjustment (MA scoring 13.3 3MSE points lower than NHW [95% confidence interval: 5.8, 20.7; P = .0005]). There was no difference by sex or ethnicity in neurological, functional, or QOL outcomes, and no sex differences in cognitive outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, worse cognitive outcomes were found in MAs compared with NHW. There were no differences between neurologic, functional, and QOL outcomes in ICH survivors based on sex or ethnicity.