Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage affects the younger age groups in a Saudi academic center

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in Saudi Arabia are still largely unknown. This retrospective cohort study was aimed to determine these features of the disease. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: A retrospective cohort review was performed on all patients with aSAH who were treated and followed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between July 2000 and December 2013. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A quantitative methodology was used and data were collected on patients’ age, gender, nationality, time to hospital presentation, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcome. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients with aSAH were included with a mean age of 43.2 (11.5) years; and males comprised 34.1%. Smoking and hypertension were the most common risk factors. Eight patients had known risk factors for aSAH, and were diagnosed using CT scans. An unfavorable outcome was associated with the presence of vasospasm (P<.001), cerebral edema (P=.001), and hydrocephalus (P=.003). CONCLUSION: A high occurrence of aSAH was observed in an age group younger than that reported in published reports. The pattern and outcome of aSAH were otherwise similar to prior reports. Future studies investigating these observations in other centers in the country can improve the prevention and treatment of this serious condition.