Severity assessment in maximally treated ICH patients: The max-ICH score

Neurology. 2017 Aug 1;89(5):423-431. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004174. Epub 2017 Jul 5.

Abstract

Objective: As common prognostication models in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are developed variably including patients with early (<24 hours) care limitations (ECL), we investigated its interaction with prognostication in maximally treated patients and sought to provide a new unbiased severity assessment tool.

Methods: This observational cohort study analyzed consecutive ICH patients (n = 583) from a prospective registry over 5 years. We characterized the influence of ECL on overall outcome by propensity score matching and on conventional prognostication using receiver operating characteristic analyses. We established the max-ICH score based on independent predictors of 12-month functional outcome in maximally treated patients and compared it to existing models.

Results: Prevalence of ECL was 19.2% (n = 112/583) and all of these patients died. Yet propensity score matching displayed that 50.7% (n = 35/69) theoretically could have survived, with 18.8% (n = 13/69) possibly reaching favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-3). Conventional prognostication seemed to be confounded by ECL, documented by a decreased predictive validity (area under the curve [AUC] 0.67, confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.73 vs AUC 0.80, CI 0.76-0.83; p < 0.01), overestimating poor outcome (mortality by 44.8%, unfavorable outcome by 10.1%) in maximally treated patients. In these patients, the novel max-ICH score (0-10) integrates strength-adjusted predictors, i.e., NIH Stroke Scale score, age, intraventricular hemorrhage, anticoagulation, and ICH volume (lobar and nonlobar), demonstrating improved predictive accuracy for functional outcome (12 months: AUC 0.81, CI 0.77-0.85; p < 0.01). The max-ICH score may more accurately delineate potentials of aggressive care, showing favorable outcome in 45.4% (n = 214/471) and a long-term mortality rate of only 30.1% (n = 142/471).

Conclusions: Care limitations significantly influenced the validity of common prognostication models resulting in overestimation of poor outcome. The max-ICH score demonstrated increased predictive validity with minimized confounding by care limitations, making it a useful tool for severity assessment in ICH patients.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Area Under Curve
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnosis*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / mortality
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Propensity Score
  • Prospective Studies
  • ROC Curve
  • Recovery of Function
  • Registries
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Treatment Outcome