Validation of the Intracerebral Haemorrhage Score for prognosis of stroke patients in clinical practice.

Background and Aims: The Intracerebral Haemorrhage Score (ICH) is a measure of prognosis of patients admitted with a haemorrhagic stroke. We aimed to evaluate this in our patients. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients were studied for ICH score, age 41-93, mean 73±13 years. Outcome was measured as death versus discharge and functional recovery. Results: There was no significant difference in the pre-stroke Rankin (0.76 vs 0.85, P=0.8) and Barthel scores (19 vs 18, P=0.8) of the discharged vs deceased patients. There was a significant difference between the two groups for blood volume on CT scan, (50 mls vs 124 mls; P=0.01) and ICH score (1.82 vs 4.5, P <0.001). All patients with a score of 0 to 2 survived, 67% of patients with score 3 survived whereas only 28% of the score 4 survived and none of the patients with score 5 and 6 survived. Only 6% of patients with scores 0 to 3 died (16 patients) vs 85% of the scores 4 to 6 (14 patients); P <0.001. Patients with the score of 0-3 had a significantly better post stroke functional recovery with Barthel index of 15.5 vs 1.3, P <0.001 and post-stroke Rankin score of 2.25 vs 5.6, P<0.001. Logistic regression revealed ICH score to be the most significant variable to predict mortality. Conclusion: The ICH score for haemorrhagic stroke has a prognostic value for mortality and functional recovery; patients with a lower score have a better functional recovery whereas those with a higher score have a high mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]