Health-related quality of life in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease with high mortality and disability. The data from large longitudinal studies on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SAH are limited. The objective was to investigate HRQoL in patients after SAH and to identify predictors of HRQoL.

METHODS: 113 patients with aneurysmal SAH were assigned to either neurosurgery (n = 57) or endovascular coiling (n = 56). Clinical assessments (Barthel Index, modified Rankin Scale) and evaluation of HRQoL [36-Item Short-Form Survey, EuroQol (EQ5D), EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS)] were performed at discharge, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Independent predictors of HRQoL were determined using multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS: HRQoL in SAH patients was considerably reduced compared to the normal population. At discharge, 92.2% of the patients had moderate or severe problems on the EQ5D. The EQ VAS score was 57.8 +/- 19.3. However, HRQoL still showed improvement from 3 months up to 1 year. At 12 months after SAH, the EQ VAS score was approximately 12-14% higher than at discharge. The independent predictors of decreased HRQoL included female gender, severe SAH, functional disability, depression, a lower level of education and the lack of a stable partnership.

CONCLUSIONS: The long-term HRQoL outcome after SAH is unfavourable. HRQoL outcome measures should be included in future studies to provide better evidence of the long-term outcomes after SAH. In addition, the independent determinants of HRQoL identified in this study should be considered in the healthcare programmes aimed at increasing the HRQoL in SAH survivors.