Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Baltic population: experience from Latvia (1996-2000).

Better knowledge of clinical epidemiology and course of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) is essential for dedicated planning of the need for services. The aim of the study was to obtain a picture of epidemiology and clinical course of ASAH in Riga City (the capital of Latvia). A retrospective population-based study included residents of Riga City who suffered their first ASAH during a 5-year period from the beginning of 1996 till the end of 2000. The total number of ASAH events in the population during the study period was 292, of which 56 (19%) were fatal before reaching the hospital. There was no significant difference between age-specific incidence rates in men and women. The mean ASAH rates per 100 000 per year were 10.3 for age-adjusted incidence (in the population aged 20-79 years) and 7.2 for crude incidence. The mean age-adjusted case fatality rates were 57% for all ASAH events and 45% for those who survived admission. Our data suggest that incidence of ASAH in Baltic population can be recognized as average compared with other European regions. However, the case fatality rate of ASAH in the study population was higher than those of SAH reported from MONICA Collaborating Centers.