Chronic subdural hematomas in Finnish patients with Huntington's disease.
Many features of Huntington's disease (HD) make these patients susceptible to subdural hematomas (SDH), but there are no previous reports on the epidemiology of SDH in this population. We investigated the incidence and risk factors of chronic SDH.



A national cohort of 192 Finnish patients with HD was investigated. Information was gathered from medical records and administrative registries.



The incidence rate of SDH was 68.3/100,000 person-years among the 192 patients. Seven patients were identified with a chronic SDH at or after the diagnosis of HD. Their age was 58.5 ± 15.0 years (mean ± SD) at the time of diagnosis of HD and 60.9 ± 14.1 years at the time of diagnosis of SDH. The incidence rate of chronic SDH after the diagnosis of HD was 4.7/1000 person-years and by 8.3 years of follow-up the cumulative risk was 5.4 %. Review of the patient charts revealed only a few of the common risk factors for chronic SDH, but the rate of reoperations was high.



The incidence of chronic SDH was higher in patients with HD than that in the general population. Incidence of chronic SDH began to increase at the time of expected motor onset of HD. Common risk factors of SDH were scarce aside from fall-related head injuries.
Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. jussi.sipila@utu.fi.|Department of Neurology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. jussi.sipila@utu.fi.|Neurology Clinic, North Karelia Central Hospital, Tikkamäentie 16, 80210, Joensuu, Finland. jussi.sipila@utu.fi.
Jussi O T
JO
Sipilä
Department of Neurology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurosurgery, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.|Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Brain Trauma, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Jussi P
JP
Posti
Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Neurology and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Kari
K
Majamaa
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000150:complications*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
Causality; Comorbidity; Epidemiology; Neurodegenerative disorders; Neurologic manifestations; Neurosurgical procedures