A population-based study of prognosis of ruptured cerebral aneurysm: mortality and recurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

• Main Authors: Olafsson, E, Hauser, W A, Gudmundsson, G
• Other Authors: National University Hospital, University of Iceland, Reykjavik.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ltd 2010
• Subjects: Adult; Aneurysm; Ruptured; Cause of Death; Cohort Studies; Disabled Persons; Female; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Prognosis; Recurrence; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Survival Analysis; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/111397

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), mortality, and relative survivorship following SAH caused by ruptured cerebral aneurysm (RCA). DESIGN/METHODS: The 86 individuals with a first diagnosis of SAH caused by RCA in Iceland from 1958 through 1968 were followed a minimum of 24 years (range, 24 to 32.5 years) or until death to determine mortality and to identify those with recurrent SAH. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (44%) died within 30 days of the index event. Two additional (both comatose from onset of ictus) died in the following month. There were no deaths between 3 and 6 months after onset. Based upon the age/gender-specific person years of observation for the population of Iceland, the Standardized Mortality Ratio for the 44 surgically treated patients surviving 6 months was 1.3. Those neurologically normal or with only mild impairment at 6 months had no identified increase in mortality. Excess mortality that was limited to individuals with severe neurologic deficit at 6 months could be identified through the first 10 years after onset. Two 6-month survivors experienced recurrent SAH. CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality is high (47%) in patients with RCA. In patients operated on for RCA and surviving 6 months, recurrent SAH occurred in 5%. Survivorship among patients surgically treated and neurologically normal or with mild residual neurologic impairment at 6 months following presentation was similar to that expected in the general population. Survivorship among patients surgically treated who had severe residual neurologic impairment at 6 months was significantly reduced.