What is the mortality score for Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)?

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Last updated: February 13, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The mortality score for Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) is 35% to 52% at 30 days.

Mortality Rate Breakdown

  • The mortality rate varies by location of ICH, with 51% for deep hemorrhage, 57% for lobar, 42% for cerebellar, and 65% for brain stem at 1 year 1.

Key Statistics

  • Half of the deaths from ICH occur in the first 2 days.
  • Only 20% of patients who had an ICH are expected to be functionally independent at 6 months 1.

Location of ICH

  • The location of ICH can be categorized into:
    • Deep: 50% of cases
    • Lobar: 35% of cases
    • Cerebellar: 10% of cases
    • Brain stem: 6% of cases 1.

From the Research

Mortality Score for Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

The mortality score for Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) is based on the ICH score, which is a clinical grading scale that allows risk stratification on presentation with ICH. The ICH score is calculated based on the following factors:

  • Glasgow Coma Scale score
  • Age ≥80 years
  • Infratentorial origin of ICH
  • ICH volume ≥30 cm³
  • Presence of intraventricular hemorrhage

Calculation of ICH Score

The ICH score is calculated by assigning points to each of the above factors, with a total score ranging from 0 to 5. The points are assigned as follows:

  • GCS score 3 to 4 = 2 points
  • GCS score 5 to 12 = 1 point
  • GCS score 13 to 15 = 0 points
  • Age ≥80 years = 1 point
  • Infratentorial origin = 1 point
  • ICH volume ≥30 cm³ = 1 point
  • Intraventricular hemorrhage = 1 point

Predictive Value of ICH Score

The ICH score has been shown to be a reliable predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with ICH 2, 3. Studies have demonstrated that the ICH score is positively correlated with mortality, with higher scores indicating a higher risk of death 4, 5. The ICH score has also been shown to be useful in predicting functional outcome at discharge, 30 days, and 60 days follow-up 4.

Key Findings

  • The ICH score is a simple and reliable clinical grading scale for ICH 3
  • The ICH score is positively correlated with mortality and functional outcome 4, 5
  • Higher ICH scores are associated with a higher risk of death and poor functional outcome 2, 4, 5
  • The ICH score can be used to improve standardization of clinical treatment protocols and clinical research studies in ICH 3

Some of the evidence for the ICH score comes from the following studies: 2, 4, 6, 3, 5

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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