Topic: Intracranial Hemorrhage
Subject: Medicine
The most significant risk factor for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is:

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) causes 10%-15% of all strokes, and is associated with the highest mortality. The rate of ICH is expected to double in the next 50 years as our population ages, as the incidence of ICH increases after age 55. The incidence in blacks is twice that of whites. Other risk factors include diabetes, menopause, excessive alcohol use, low serum cholesterol, and low education levels. However, hypertension is the most common cause of ICH, and its most important risk factor. In patients with hypertension, the risk for ICH increases further if the patient also smokes, or is nonadherent to a medication regimen. Having hypertension also increases the risk of ICH in people younger than 55 years. While atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke, it is not an independent risk factor for ICH.