Primary intracerebral haemorrhage in the oxfordshire community stroke project: 1. Incidence, clinical features and causes

In a community-based stroke register we identified 675 patients with first-ever stroke. Sixty-six (10%) due to primary intracerebral haemorrhage giving a crude incidence of 0.16/1.000/year (age adjusted to England and Wales population = 0.23/1,000/year). The site of the haemorrhage was lobar in 36%, basal ganglionic in 27%, cerebellar in 11%, massive supratentorial in 9%, brain stem in 3% and unknown in 14%. Intraventricular haemorrhage was least common in the lobar group (13%) but occurred in 29% overall. The clinical presentation and features depended upon the site and size of the haematoma. Hypertension preceded the stroke in 58%, other aetiologies were uncommon.