Serum cholesterol LDL and 90-day mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prognostic significance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the association between LDL-C and mortality in ICH. METHODS Consecutive patients (n=88) presenting with ICH were included in the study. Lipid profile was obtained during the first hours after admission. We analyzed the impact of LDL-C on 90-day mortality using the Hazard Rate (HR) crude, analysis crude for trend by Mantel-Haenszel Test, Multiple Cox Proportional Hazards model, and analysis of survival curves. Association between LDL-C and severity markers of ICH were explored using Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS Low LDL-C levels were independently associated with death after intracranial hemorrhage (HR=3.07 (95% CI:1.04 to 9.02; P=0.042) in multivariable analysis after controlling for confounding factors. Analysis for trend showed a significant association (Xt=-2.144; P=0.032) by Mantel-Haenszel Test. Spearman analysis showed no correlation between LDL-C and variables that are markers of ICH severity: NIH score (r=-0.091; P=0.400), GCS score (r=0.136; P=0.207), ICH volume (r=0.140; P=0.192), and length of stay (r=-0.111; P=0.308). CONCLUSIONS Low levels of LDL-C are independently associated with an increased risk of death in patients with brain hemorrhage. We have not found evidences that the levels of LDL-C can act as a biological marker of severity.