title: Cognitive and functional outcomes of 5-year subarachnoid haemorrhage survivors: comparison to matched healthy controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While neuropsychological deficits have been the focus of research post-subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), population-based information on long-term neuropsychological impairment post-SAH are lacking. Neither the profile of long-term neuropsychological deficits nor its relationship to long-term functional outcomes has been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional population-based study of long-term (5 years) neuropsychological and functional outcomes post-SAH. Participants were 27 five-year survivors of SAH previously enrolled in the Auckland Regional Community Stroke study (2002-2003). Twenty-six age-, gender- and ethnicity-matched controls were used to compare mood, functional (i.e. disability; handicap; quality of life, QoL) and neuropsychological outcomes (i.e. verbal memory, visual memory, executive functioning, language, processing speed and visuoperceptual abilities) of SAH survivors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAH survivors were more depressed and significantly more impaired in the areas of disability, handicap, and QoL than controls. SAH survivors also had significant cognitive deficits across domains when compared to controls. Depressed mood and baseline functioning were related to worse functional outcomes at 5 years post-SAH. Whilst poor cognitive functioning, particularly in the domains of visual memory and language, impacted long-term functional outcomes of SAH survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five-year SAH survivors have many functional and cognitive deficits compared to matched controls. Language and visual memory emerged as independent factors associated with their current functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Navjot
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chahal
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barker-Collo
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feigin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome