Acute physiologic predictors of mortality and functional and cognitive recovery in hemorrhagic stroke: 1-, 3-, and 6-month assessments.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic values of acute physiologic parameters of mortality and functional and cognitive recovery. We studied 108 patients with hemorrhagic stroke admitted within 24 hours after stroke onset to a neurologic intensive care department. Details concerning potential physiologic predictors were collected (i.e., systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, body temperature, hematocrit, Pao(2), Paco(2) and serum osmolality, pH, cholesterol, and glucose levels) at admission. As outcome variables, mortality and functional and cognitive recovery at 1, 3, and 6 months were measured. Results showed that blood pressure, serum pH, and Pao(2) on admission are significant predictors of mortality; that respiratory rate and hematocrit on admission are significant predictors of functional recovery; and that respiratory rate, Pao(2), and heart rate on admission predict cognitive recovery. It appears that the physiologic predictors of hemorrhagic stroke are remarkably dependent on outcome definitions (i.e., mortality, functional disability, or cognitive ability), but not with recovery times.