Relationship Between Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: The role of diabetes mellitus in the pathogenesis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is controversial. Underlying comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus may increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. In this study, we sought to assess the role of diabetes mellitus in the occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was evaluated in 120 patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage and in a control group of 135 patients with low back pain. All patients were treated at the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Shohadaye Tajrish University Hospital, Tehran, Iran between 2008 and 2012. T-test was applied for analysing the quantitative variables and chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to analyse qualitative variables. Results: The mean age was 67.5±12.7 y in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and 70.5±12.6 y in the control group (p=0.201). Diabetes mellitus was found in 39 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (33.1%) and 30 (22.2%) control subjects (p=0.054). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients younger than 60 y was 7.4% in the control group and 27.8% in the case group (p=0.042). Conclusion: In our study, no significant relationship was found between diabetes mellitus and intracerebral hemorrhage (except in patients younger than 60 years) and diabetes mellitus did not cause bleeding in certain brain areas. However, more studies are required on the correlation of diabetes mellitus and intracerebral hemorrhage in the same population to reach a definite conclusion.