Electrocardiographic abnormalities and elevated cTNT at admission for intracerebral hemorrhage: predictors for survival?

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular lesions are often associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. The main purpose of this work was to investigate the prognostic value of ECG abnormalities and/or elevated cardiac troponin (cTNT) on admission in patients with nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ICH were included. The predictive value of ECG abnormalities and increased TNT on survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: The most frequently observed ECG abnormalities were the presence of a Q wave (39.6%), followed by prolonged QTc (>0.44 s; 35.4%), which was an independent predictor for long-term mortality (P = 0.019). No difference in QTc was observed between patients with right versus left ICH. Increased cTNT levels at admission had no prognostic value.

CONCLUSION: Various ECG changes were common in patients presenting with an ICH, but only prolonged QTc was found to be an independent predictor of poor survival during follow-up after ICH.