Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Cardiac Related Fatality: Who Dies and Why?

Medical complications are a notable source of in-hospital death following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, there is a paucity of literature examining medical complications on a national scale. This study uses a national dataset to analyze the incidence rates, case fatality rates, and risk factors for in-hospital complications and mortality following aSAH. We found that the most common complications in aSAH patients (N = 170, 869) were hydrocephalus (29.3%) and hyponatremia (17.3%). Cardiac arrest was the most common cardiac complication (3.2%) and was associated with the highest case fatality rate overall (82%). Patients with cardiac arrest also had the highest odds of in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR), 22.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 19.24-27.30; P < 0.0001], followed by patients with cardiogenic shock (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 2.146-4.07; P < 0.0001). Advanced age and National Inpatient Sample-SAH Severity Score were found to be associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03-1.03; P < 0.0001 and OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.65-1.75; P < 0.0001, respectively). Renal and cardiac complications are significant factors to consider in aSAH management, with cardiac arrest being the strongest indicator of case fatality and in-hospital mortality. Further research is needed to characterize factors that have contributed to the decreasing trend in case fatality rates identified for certain complications.