Epidemiology of subarachnoid hemorrhage, patterns of management, and outcomes in China: a hospital-based multicenter prospective study.

Aims: To conduct a large-scale analysis on epidemiology, management, and outcomes of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and to investigate the current situation of aneurysm obliteration in China.

Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study involving 132 hospitals throughout China from September 2007 to August 2008 was conducted. A total of 651 patients with spontaneous SAH were evaluated.

Results: The most frequent type of SAH was aneurysmal SAH (77.4%), followed by uncommon causes (17.5%) and uncertain etiologies (5.1%). For aneurysmal SAH, the cumulative mortality at 28 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months was 16.9%, 21.2%, 23.6%, and 24.6%, respectively. Obliteration of aneurysms, age, Hunt and Hess grade, and history of stroke affected the 12-month mortality. In multiple regression analysis, the region, type of hospital, patient's age, history of hypertension, and nonintraventricular hemorrhage impacted aneurysm obliteration.

Conclusion: Aneurysmal rupture is the most common cause of spontaneous SAH in China. The percentage of aneurysm obliteration is still low in China that seems to contribute to long-term mortality. With continued training of specialists, proper allocation of healthcare resources, and establishment of stroke centers, the rate of securing aneurysms is expected to rise.