Persistent Hyperglycemia Is Associated With Increased Mortality After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia may be associated with worse outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We assessed the association of early glycemic trajectory on ICH mortality and edema growth. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included patients from the Helsinki ICH study with glucose measurements at least once between both 0 to 24 and 24 to 72 hours from onset. Hyperglycemia was defined as blood glucose ≥8 mmol/L (144 mg/dL) based on the local threshold for treatment. Glycemic trajectory was defined on maximum values 0 to 24 and 24 to 72 hours after ICH: (1) persistent normoglycemia in both epochs; (2) late hyperglycemia (only between 24 and 72 hours); (3) early hyperglycemia (only before 24 hours); and (4) persistent hyperglycemia in both epochs. Logistic regression with known predictors of outcome estimated the association of glycemic trajectory and 6‐month mortality. A generalized linear model assessed the association of glycemic trajectory and interpolated 72‐hour edema extension distance. A total of 576 patients met eligibility criteria, of whom 214 (37.2%) had persistent normoglycemia, 44 (7.6%) late hyperglycemia, 151 (26.2%) early hyperglycemia, and 167 (29.0%) persistent hyperglycemia. Six‐month mortality was higher in the persistent (51.1%) and early (26.3%) hyperglycemia groups than the normoglycemia (19.0%) and late hyperglycemia (3.6%) groups. Persistent hyperglycemia was associated with 6‐month mortality (odds ratio 3.675, 95% CI 1.989–6.792; P<0.001). Both univariate (P=0.426) and multivariable (P=0.493) generalized linear model analyses showed no association between glycemic trajectory and 72‐hour edema extension distance. CONCLUSION: Early hyperglycemia after ICH is harmful if it is persistent. Strategies to achieve glycemic control after ICH may influence patient outcome and need to be assessed in clinical trials.