Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Point of Care Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Ultrasound of the Middle Cerebral Artery
Published on: August 9, 2024
Electrocardiographic abnormalities and elevated cTNT at admission for intracerebral hemorrhage: predictors for
Clara Hjalmarsson1, Lennart Bergfeldt, Lena Bokemark
1Stroke Unit, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities are common in patients with non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Prolonged QTc interval on ECG is an independent predictor of poor survival after ICH, while cardiac troponin levels are not.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cerebrovascular lesions, specifically intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), are frequently linked to electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities.
- Assessing prognostic markers in ICH patients is crucial for patient management and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prognostic significance of ECG abnormalities and elevated cardiac troponin (cTNT) on admission in patients with nontraumatic ICH.
- To identify specific ECG markers that predict mortality in ICH survivors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 97 consecutive patients with nontraumatic ICH was analyzed.
- Cox proportional hazard models were employed to evaluate the predictive value of ECG findings and cTNT levels on survival.
Main Results:
- The most common ECG abnormalities observed were Q waves (39.6%) and prolonged QTc interval (>0.44 s; 35.4%).
- A prolonged QTc interval was identified as an independent predictor of long-term mortality (P = 0.019).
- Elevated cTNT levels at admission did not demonstrate prognostic value for survival.
Conclusions:
- ECG changes are prevalent in patients with ICH.
- Prolonged QTc interval is a significant independent predictor of poor survival following ICH, highlighting its clinical importance.
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.
