Subarachnoid haemorrhage: prognostic factors as related to working capacity

Seventy-two adult patients suffering spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were investigated concerning early mortality. Five patients died within 3 weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms. A demonstrable bleeding source and a Hunt-Hess score greater than 2 were found to be powerful predictive factors for early mortality. Sixty-seven survivors of SAH were examined at an average of 85 months after their first bleeding with regard to working capacity. Various clinical variables and different rating scales during the acute and subacute stage of SAH were identified retrospectively, and their prognostic value for working capacity was investigated. We found that all clinical features at the acute stage of SAH were not predictive of limited working capacity. At the time of discharge, however, organic brain syndrome, focal neurological deficits and a low Barthel Index proved to be significantly related to impaired working capacity. A Hunt-Hess score greater than 2 on admission, and a demonstrable bleeding source, were powerful predictors for early death, but not for impaired working capacity of survivors of SAH.