title: Age-associated vasospasm in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: The relationship between age and vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is controversial. We evaluated this relationship in a contemporary sample from a single institution. In a retrospective study design, we included patients with SAH caused by ruptured intracranial aneurysms. All patients underwent an evaluation that included head imaging, cerebral angiography, and treatment for the underlying aneurysm. Vasospasm was classified as absent, any vasospasm, or symptomatic vasospasm. Age was classified into 2 categories with a cutoff of 50 years, and also was stratified by decade. All patients had received preventative and therapeutic measures for vasospasm. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between age and the occurrence of vasospasm. A total of 108 patients were included in this analysis, 67 of whom were age ≥50 years. The older patients had a higher incidence of vascular risk factors, and the younger patients had a higher incidence of smoking and illicit substance abuse. The mean age of the patients with any vasospasm (n = 41) was 48.51 ± 11.23 years, compared with 59.67 ± 13.30 years in those without vasospasm (P < .0001). Adjusted analysis found a greater risk of vasospasm in the younger patients compared with the older patients (odds ratio, 5.83; 95% confidence interval, 2.41-14.12 for any vasospasm; odds ratio, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.008-7.052 for symptomatic vasospasm). This risk of vasospasm decreased with advanced age (P < .0001). Our findings suggest that patients age <50 years are at 5-fold greater risk of any vasospasm compared with older patients, and that age-adjusted prevention protocols may need to be considered.
authors: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, MO, USA.
authors: Sushant P
authors: SP
authors: Kale
authors: Randall C
authors: RC
authors: Edgell
authors: Amer
authors: A
authors: Alshekhlee
authors: Afshin
authors: A
authors: Borhani Haghighi
authors: Justin
authors: J
authors: Sweeny
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Felton
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Kitchener
authors: Nirav
authors: N
authors: Vora
authors: Bruce K
authors: BK
authors: Bieneman
authors: Salvador
authors: S
authors: Cruz-Flores
authors: Saleem
authors: S
authors: Abdulrauf
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy