Although patients with favorable functional outcome report good or better mobility compared to their age and sex matched general population, they have significantly more issues with usual activities and more extreme issues with anxiety/depression a year after aSAH.
Patients with favorable functional outcome after aSAH reported fewer mobility problems than the age- and sex-matched general population.
Patients with favorable functional outcome after aSAH reported significantly more difficulties with usual activities compared to the matched general population.
Patients with favorable functional outcome after aSAH reported more extreme anxiety/depression compared to the matched general population.
Patients with unfavorable functional outcome after aSAH performed worse than the matched general population across all EQ-5D-3L levels and dimensions measured.
This study represents the first comparison of EQ-5D-3L data from a national group of aSAH patients with favorable functional outcome to a sex- and age-matched general population.
This research suggests that standard measures used to assess recovery after a brain bleed caused by a ruptured aneurysm (called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or aSAH) may miss important quality-of-life problems in patients who appear to have recovered well. The study followed 634 Swedish patients for one year and compared those deemed to have a 'favorable' recovery — meaning they could largely function independently — against a large group of people from the general population matched for age and sex. Despite appearing to do well on standard neurological assessments, these patients were more than twice as likely to report difficulties with everyday activities like work or household tasks, and were nearly twice as likely to report severe anxiety or depression. Interestingly, patients with favorable recovery actually reported fewer mobility problems than the general population, possibly because younger or healthier individuals are more likely to survive aSAH and be classified as having favorable outcomes. This highlights a mismatch between traditional functional outcome scales and patients' actual lived experience — someone can walk and care for themselves yet still struggle significantly with normal daily responsibilities and mental health. This research suggests that relying solely on functional outcome measures like the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended may cause clinicians to underestimate the ongoing burden faced by aSAH survivors. Routine screening for difficulties with daily activities and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, may be important for patients who appear to have recovered well after aSAH, so that appropriate support and rehabilitation can be offered.
Aineskog H, Baldvinsdóttir B, Nilsson O, Jakola A, Kronvall E, Engström E, et al.. (2026). Targeting health-related quality of life issues not found with functional outcome measures a year after aneurysm subarachnoid hemorrhage in a Swedish national cohort.. Acta neurochirurgica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-026-07059-z