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Objective: Blood pressure variability (BPV) and its potential association with early hematoma expansion (HE) in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains to be fully elucidated. Our study explores the potential link between BPV within the first 24 h after admission and HE in ICH. Methods: In a prospective cohort single-center study, we analyzed consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH. Continuous BP data via an arterial line extracted from the Intellispace Critical Care and Anesthesia information system (Philips Healthcare) were analyzed over 0–2, 0–8, 0–12, and 0–24 h intervals post-admission. BPV was assessed through successive variability (SV), standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) using all available BP measurements. Early HE was defined as an absolute [≥ 6 ml] or relative [≥ 33 %] increase in ICH volume on 24-hours follow-up brain imaging. Secondary endpoints were the influence of BP on admission and other potential risk factors for HE. Results: Among 305 ICH-patients (mean age ± SD 70.1 ± 14.9 years, 47.9 % female, median NIHSS 6 (3, 13), median ICH score 1 (1, 2)), 41 (13.4 %) experienced HE. HE-patients had higher NIHSS (p = 0.015), ICH-score (p = 0.005), ICH volume (p 30 cm3) experienced lower absolute BP and BPV indices and worse clinical outcomes. These findings suggest a nuanced relationship between BP dynamics and ICH severity, underscoring the need for individualized BP management in acute ICH care. Further research is necessary to explore these relationships and optimize treatment strategies.

Background: The relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) changes potentially indicating autonomic dysregulation following spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and functional outcome has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of HRV during the initial 96 h after admission on 90-day functional outcome in ICH patients. Methods: We included patients with spontaneous ICH in a prospective cohort single-center study. Continuous HR data were retrieved from the Intellispace Critical Care and Anesthesia information system (Philips Healthcare) and analyzed within the following time intervals: 0–2, 0–8, 0–12, 0–24, 0–48, 0–72, and 8–16, 16–24, 24–48, 48–72, 72–96 h after admission. HRV was determined from all available HR values by calculating the successive variability (SV), standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV). Low HRV was set as SD ≤ 11.4 ms, and high HRV as SD > 11.4 ms. The clinical severity of ICH was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Good functional outcome was defined as mRS 0–2. Results: The cohort included 261 ICH patients (mean age ± SD 69.6 ± 16.5 years, 48.7% female, median NIHSS 6 (2, 12), median ICH score 1 (0, 2), of whom 106 (40.6%) had good functional outcome. All patients had the lowest HRV at admission, which increased during the first two days. Comparing ICH patients with low HRV (n = 141) and high HRV (n = 118), those with good outcome showed significantly lower HRV during the first three days (0–72 h: HRV SD good outcome 10.6 ± 3.5 ms vs. poor outcome 12.0 ± 4.0 ms; p = 0.004). Logistic regression revealed that advanced age, high premorbid mRS, and high NIHSS at admission were significant predictors of poor functional outcome, while reduced SD of HRV showed a non-significant trend towards good functional outcome (0–72 h: OR 0.898; CI 0.800–1.008; p = 0.067). Conclusions: Our results indicate autonomic dysfunction with sympathetic hyperactivity after spontaneous ICH, as reflected by the evidence of the lower HRV in the first days. Initially increased sympathetic tone appears to have a protective effect, as suggested by the comparatively lower HRV in patients with good functional outcome at the first days.