Quality of Life After Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: April 24, 2023
For survivors of poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), the proportion of individuals who report good quality of life (QoL) is substantial, despite an initially high mortality rate, according to new research. The prospective observational herniation World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale study enrolled 250 patients with poor-grade aSAH, defined as World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grades 4 and 5. Data was collected via structured telephone interviews 6 and 12 months after the event, with QoL assessed with the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions-3 Levels (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire (in which 0 represents a health state equivalent to death and 1 represents perfect health). After 6 months, 49.8% (118 of 237) patients were still alive. After 12 months, 46.6% (104 of 223) patients were alive. With mean EQ-5D-3L index values of 0.85 (±0.18) and 0.86 (±0.18), substantial percentages — 80.5% and 85.6% of those patients, respectively — achieved a favorable outcome. Unfavorable outcomes after 6 and 12 months were reported in 19.5% (23) and 14.4% (15) of participants, respectively.