Prognostic factors for outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe prognostic factors for outcome in a large series of patients undergoing neurosurgical clipping of aneurysms after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).


METHODS
Data were analyzed from 3567 patients with aneurysmal SAH enrolled in 4 randomized clinical trials between 1991 and 1997. The primary outcome measure was the Glasgow outcome scale 3 months after SAH. Multivariable logistic regression with backwards selection and Cox proportional hazards regression models were derived to define independent predictors of unfavorable outcome.


RESULTS
In multivariable analysis, unfavorable outcome was associated with increasing age, worsening neurological grade, ruptured posterior circulation aneurysm, larger aneurysm size, more SAH on admission computed tomography, intracerebral hematoma or intraventricular hemorrhage, elevated systolic blood pressure on admission, and previous diagnosis of hypertension, myocardial infarction, liver disease, or SAH. Variables present during hospitalization associated with poor outcome were temperature >38 degrees C 8 days after SAH, use of anticonvulsants, symptomatic vasospasm, and cerebral infarction. Use of prophylactic or therapeutic hypervolemia or prophylactic-induced hypertension were associated with a lower risk of unfavorable outcome. Time from admission to surgery was significant in some models. Factors that contributed most to variation in outcome, in descending order of importance, were cerebral infarction, neurological grade, age, temperature on day 8, intraventricular hemorrhage, vasospasm, SAH, intracerebral hematoma, and history of hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Although most prognostic factors for outcome after SAH are present on admission and are not modifiable, a substantial contribution to outcome is made by factors developing after admission and which may be more easily influenced by treatment.
Rosengart
Axel J
AJ
Neurocritical Care and Acute Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Schultheiss
Kim E
KE
Tolentino
Jocelyn
J
Macdonald
R Loch
RL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015984:Causality; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology