Description of quality of life and its predictors in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
According to previous studies, the quality of life is usually substantially altered in patients who have suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage of an aneurysmal origin. Some studies have attempted to find out which factors predict the deterioration in quality of life. Our study will try to describe the quality of life of these patients and discover which variables may predict it in each of its dimensions.


METHODS
The participants were 70 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage between 15 and 85 years of age. The instrument used to measure the quality of life is the SF-36 with its eight dimensions. The predictor variables introduced into the multiple linear regressions are neurological condition on admission [World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale and Hunt and Hess scale], extension of the hemorrhage (Fisher scale), sex, age, physical handicaps, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) on release.


RESULTS
The results showed that 42.9% of the patients had a deteriorated quality of life after 4 months, and that the most affected dimension was the Physical Role (60%). The two factors that predict quality of life are sex and physical handicaps. Other factors that intervene are the GOS on release and the WFNS.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients who have experienced an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage show greater difficulty in performing daily activities, and they present more depression and anxiety. The absence of handicaps and being male are predictor factors for an unaffected quality of life.
Katati
Majed J
MJ
Neurosurgery Service, Virgen de las Nieves Hospital, Granada, Spain. mjkatati@hotmail.com
Santiago-Ramajo
Sandra
S
Pérez-García
Miguel
M
Meersmans-Sánchez Jofré
Miguel
M
Vilar-Lopez
Raquel
R
Coín-Mejias
Maria Angeles
MA
Caracuel-Romero
Alfonso
A
Arjona-Moron
Ventura
V
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors