Abstract
Background:
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) incidence and hypertension prevalence vary among racial-ethnic groups. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is common following ICH, but there are few racial/ethnic comparisons of acute BP. This study assessed the BP response to acute ICH in a multi-ethnic population.
Methods:
We examined BP in the field (EMS), emergency department (ED) and at 24 hours after ICH in subjects enrolled in the Ethnic Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ERICH) study. ERICH is a multi-center prospective case-control study of ICH in non-Hispanic whites (whites), non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) and Hispanics. Baseline characteristics and BP recordings by EMS, in the ED and at 24 hours were analyzed for group differences.
Results:
Of 1052 subjects enrolled, BP recordings were available by EMS in 370, ED in 1041 and at 24 hours in 1014 cases of which 24% were white, 42% black and 34% Hispanic. Whites were significantly older 68± 14 years than blacks (58±13 years) and Hispanics (59± 15 years) (p≤0.0001) and had more lobar hemorrhages (39% vs. 23% blacks and 26% Hispanics; p≤0.0001). Baseline differences included larger hematoma volumes, in whites, and more frequent hypertension history and substance use, including cocaine use and smoking, in blacks. Blacks and Hispanics had significantly higher EMS (p=0.0001) and ED (p=0.0001) systolic BPs compared to whites (blacks: 198± 39, 195± 37; Hispanics: 191± 41, 191± 39; whites: 173± 37, 176± 37 mmHg). At 24 hours blacks had a higher systolic BP (144± 25 mmHg; p=0.0014) than Hispanics and whites (139± 21 and 138± 22 mmHg). These differences remained significant after adjustment for baseline group differences, including lobar and deep location. In multivariate analysis, low GCS and being black were associated with a systolic BP> 140mmHg at 24h. Blacks were more likely to receive BP treatment in the ER when compared to whites and Hispanics (76% vs. 52% and 68%).
Conclusion:
We found significant differences in the acute BP response to ICH, with blacks and Hispanics having a higher systolic BP at acute presentation. At 24 hours systolic BP remained elevated in blacks. These findings contribute to our understanding of racial-ethnic differences in BP and identify groups at risk for continued BP elevation.