Electrocardiographic Abnormalities and Elevated cTNT at Admission for Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Predictors for Survival?

Abstract

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). 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. 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. 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.