Quality of life in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated conservatively, before and after occlusion. A single center cohort study.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
38515528
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Rupture of intracranial aneurysms is the most frequent cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage and is associated with high morbidity. Recommendations for preventive treatment of unruptured aneurysms (UIAs) remain controversial due to inconsistent data on their natural history and the risks associated with treatment. The awareness of being diagnosed with one or more UIAs can provoke feelings of anxiety and psychosocial distress. Therefore, the impact of management on a patients' health perception and quality of life (QoL) is an essential factor to be considered in the treatment decision-making process.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess and compare QoL in patients diagnosed with one or more UIAs depending on their treatment as well as their pre- or postoperative status.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Demographic and clinical data as well as results of the 15D quality of life (15D QoL) questionnaire of 189 patients were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into different subgroups, depending on their treatment modalities (conservative, microsurgery or endovascular treatment) and their pre- or postoperative status at the time of completion of the questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the different subgroups.
RESULTS
Conservatively treated patients had similar mean 15D QoL scores as preoperative patients. Despite an initial postoperative QoL reduction and a trend towards recovery and even an improvement of QoL in the long term after UIA occlusion, neither clinically relevant nor statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative mean 15D QoL scores were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Health-related QoL does not significantly change after treatment of UIAs when compared to the preoperative period. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term postoperative quality of life changes as well as treatment-related influencing factors on patients' quality of life.
Rupture of intracranial aneurysms is the most frequent cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage and is associated with high morbidity. Recommendations for preventive treatment of unruptured aneurysms (UIAs) remain controversial due to inconsistent data on their natural history and the risks associated with treatment. The awareness of being diagnosed with one or more UIAs can provoke feelings of anxiety and psychosocial distress. Therefore, the impact of management on a patients' health perception and quality of life (QoL) is an essential factor to be considered in the treatment decision-making process.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess and compare QoL in patients diagnosed with one or more UIAs depending on their treatment as well as their pre- or postoperative status.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Demographic and clinical data as well as results of the 15D quality of life (15D QoL) questionnaire of 189 patients were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into different subgroups, depending on their treatment modalities (conservative, microsurgery or endovascular treatment) and their pre- or postoperative status at the time of completion of the questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the different subgroups.
RESULTS
Conservatively treated patients had similar mean 15D QoL scores as preoperative patients. Despite an initial postoperative QoL reduction and a trend towards recovery and even an improvement of QoL in the long term after UIA occlusion, neither clinically relevant nor statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative mean 15D QoL scores were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Health-related QoL does not significantly change after treatment of UIAs when compared to the preoperative period. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term postoperative quality of life changes as well as treatment-related influencing factors on patients' quality of life.
Date Issued
2024-04
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
Clip Coil Intracranial aneurysm Neurosurgery QoL Quality of life
Language(s)
en
Additional Credits
Journal
World neurosurgery: X
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
2590-1397
Access(Rights)
open.access