• Ju-Sing Fan, Yen-Chia Chen, Hsien-Hao Huang, David Hung-Tsang Yen, Chorng-Kuang How, and Mu-Shuan Huang.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Postgrad Med J. 2017 Jun 1; 93 (1100): 349-353.

ObjectiveTo explore the incidence and risk factors for interhospital transfer neurological deterioration (IHTND) in patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (SICH).MethodsConsecutive adult patients with first-ever SICH referred to our emergency department (ED) and transported by ambulance from July 2011 through June 2015 were eligible for this prospective observational study. Enrolled patients had SICH with elapsed time <12 hours and a nearly normal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (≥13) at presentation. IHTND was defined as GCS score drop ≥2 points during the time from last GCS measure in first ED (shortly before transport) and first measure in second ED (shortly after arrival), which was confirmed by the accompanying nurse practitioner. The potential risk factors for IHTND were screened by χ2 test, unpaired t test (parametric data) or Mann-Whitney U test (non-parametric data) in univariate analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for other covariates.ResultsAmong 217 enrolled patients, 36 (16.6%) had IHTND. After adjustment for other covariates in multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant predictors of IHTND were arrival systolic blood pressure ≥180 mm Hg (p=0.026, OR=2.741, 95% CI 1.126 to 6.674), infratentorial ICH (p=0.015, OR=3.182, 95% CI 1.248 to 8.113), presence of intraventricular haemorrhage (p=0.023, OR=2.533, 95% CI 1.137 to 5.645) and larger ICH (by 1 mL increment of haematoma, p=0.013, OR=1.027, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.048).ConclusionsAbout one-sixth of referred not comatose patients with SICH developed IHTND. Some risk factors were identified for the first time. Modifying procedures for proper transfer of patients at high-risk for IHTND might help in safely transferring patients with SICH.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

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