Tens of Thousands of Lives a Year Could Be Saved by New Treatment Protocol for Brain Hemorrhage; Combination of Readily Available Treatments Improved Outcomes–With Particular Benefit for Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Where Most Cases Occur

On May 25, 2023, the George Institute for Global Health announced data from the phase III INTERACT3 study demonstrating that a new combination of treatments for stroke due to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) significantly improves the chances of surviving without major disability. Results were presented on May 25 at the European Stroke Organization Conference in Munich, Germany, and simultaneously published in The Lancet. The open-access article is titled “The Third Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3): An International, Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial.” The INTERACT3 study is the first-ever randomized controlled trial to show a clearly positive outcome for the treatment of ICH. Timely administration of the new treatment protocol--known as a Care Bundle--centered on the rapid control of high blood pressure, led to improved recovery, lower rates of death, and better overall quality of life in patients with this serious condition.