Alcohol overuse and intracerebral hemorrhage: Characteristics and long-term outcome.

Background and purposeAlcohol overuse (AOu) is considered an important risk factor for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The clinical and outcome characteristics of these patients (AOu-ICH) are not well known. MethodsAll patients with ICH admitted to a single university tertiary stroke center were prospectively studied from May 2005 to May 2015. Demographic profiles, radiologic characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with acute ICH and previous AOu (>40g/day or >300g/week) were analyzed. ResultsDuring the study period, 555 patients with spontaneous primary ICH met the inclusion criteria. A total of 81 patients (14.6%) reported AOu (24.3% of men vs. 3.1% of women; P<0.0001; mean age, 63 years old for AOu vs. 74 years old for non-AOu; P<0.0001). Of the classic cardiovascular risk factors, only smoking was associated with AOu (63% vs. 12.2% of non-AOu; P<0.0001). Initial severity and hematoma volume were similar in both groups, with no observed differences in stroke care or in-hospital medical complications. Patients with AOu had worse outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 3-6 points) than patients without AOu at 3months [odds ratio (OR), 2.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-4.75; P=0.005] and 12months (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.23-5.00; P=0.011). A similar trend was observed at 5years (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 0.96-6.39; P=0.059). ConclusionsAlcohol overuse was present in 14.6% of patients with ICH, who were predominantly male, smokers and a mean of 11years younger than the non-AOu group. Despite a lack of differences in initial clinical severity, stroke care and early medical complications, patients with AOu had worse short- and long-term outcomes.