Cognitive and functional outcomes of 5-year subarachnoid haemorrhage survivors: comparison to matched healthy controls.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

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.