Electrocardiographic findings in subarachnoid hemorrhage. A population study.

The prevalence of ECG abnormalities and their prognostic value in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were analysed in patients from an epidemiological study on SAH. The analysis was based on ECGs recorded during the first 72 hours after bleeding. An ECG recording was obtained in 29% of patients dying within 7 days after SAH, and in 64% of those surviving longer. Tachycardia over 100 beats/min, P mitrale, and ST segment depression greater than 1.0 mm or elevation greater than 2.5 mm were statistically significantly more common among patients dying within 7 days after bleeding. ECG changes reflecting myocardial ischemia or a compromised hemodynamic state observed during the first 3 days after SAH seem to have an untoward effect on the prognosis.