Quality of life in patients and partners after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
Outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is often graded as "poor," "fair," or "good." Such categories are usually based on physicians' assessments of physical abilities of patients rather than on how patients themselves perceive their physical, psychological, and social well-being. We assessed functional outcome and quality of life (QoL) in patients with SAH and their partners.


METHODS
In a consecutive series of 64 patients and 51 partners studied 4 months after the SAH, we assessed functional outcome by means of the Rankin Scale, and QoL by means of the SF-36, the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), and a visual analogue scale. Additionally, we asked two "simple questions" about dependency and recovery. All questionnaires were completed in an interview setting. The scores on the QoL instruments from patients and partners were stratified according to the Rankin grades of the patients and were compared with data from a Dutch reference population.


RESULTS
Only patients who had no symptoms at all (Rankin grade 0) had no reduction in QoL compared with the reference population; some of these patients even indicated an improvement in QoL from before the SAH according to the visual analogue scale. Patients who had symptoms but were independent (Rankin grades 1 to 3) and therefore usually designated as having "good outcome" often had reductions in QoL, on both the physical and psychosocial subscores of the SIP and SF-36. The QoL of partners was considerably reduced in several psychosocial domains.


CONCLUSIONS
SAH has a considerable impact on the QoL of patients and their partners. Only patients without residual symptoms (Rankin grade 0) have a good outcome in terms of physical performance and QoL.
Hop
J W
JW
University Department of Neurology, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.w.hop@neuro.azu.nl
Rinkel
G J
GJ
Algra
A
A
van Gijn
J
J
D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome