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Abstract
Objective: To identify risk factors for refractory fever after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and to determine the impact of temperature elevation on outcome.
Methods: We studied a consecutive cohort of 353 patients with SAH with a maximum daily temperature (Tmax) recorded on at least 7 days between SAH days 0 and 10. Fever (>38.3 °C) was routinely treated with acetaminophen and conventional water-circulating cooling blankets. We calculated daily Tmax above 37.0 °C, and defined extreme Tmax as daily excess above 38.3 °C. Global outcome at 90 days was evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) with the Lawton scale, and cognitive functioning with the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. Mixed-effects models were used to identify predictors of Tmax, and logistic regression models to evaluate the impact of Tmax on outcome.
Results: Average daily Tmax was 1.15 °C (range 0.04 to 2.74 °C). The strongest predictors of fever were poor Hunt-Hess grade and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (both p < 0.001). After controlling for baseline outcome predictors, daily Tmax was associated with an increased risk of death or severe disability (mRS ≥ 4, adjusted OR 3.0 per °C, 95% CI 1.6 to 5.8), loss of independence in IADLs (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6), and cognitive impairment (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.1, all p ≤ 0.02). These associations were even stronger when extreme Tmax was analyzed.
Conclusion: Treatment-refractory fever during the first 10 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is predicted by poor clinical grade and intraventricular hemorrhage, and is associated with increased mortality and more functional disability and cognitive impairment among survivors. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the impact of prophylactic fever control on outcome after SAH.
Footnotes
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Editorial, see page 973
This article was previously published in electronic format as an Expedited E-Pub at www.neurology.org.
Supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the American Heart Association to Dr. Mayer (#9750432N).
Disclosure: Dr. Connolly has received research support from Innercool Therapies. Dr. Mayer has received research support, consulting fees, speaking honoraria, and stock options from Medivance, Inc. and stock options from Radiant Medical. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose.
Received March 10, 2006. Accepted in final form September 19, 2006.
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