Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in pregnancy: National trends of treatment, predictors, and outcomes

PLoS One. 2023 May 4;18(5):e0285082. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285082. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a rare event associated with significant pregnancy-associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The optimal treatment strategy and clinical outcome of aSAH in pregnancy remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the treatment utilizations and outcomes of aSAH in pregnant people.

Methods: Using the 2010-2018 National Inpatient Sample, we identified all birth hospitalizations of women between ages of 18 to 45 associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage and aneurysm treatment were included. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the effect of pregnancy state, mode of treatment of aneurysms, severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage on mortality and discharge destination of this cohort. Trends in mode of treatment utilized for aneurysmal treatment in this time interval was evaluated.

Results: 13,351 aSAH with treatment were identified, of which 440 were associated with pregnancy. There was no significant difference in mortality or rate of discharge to home in pregnancy related hospitalization. Worse aSAH severity, chronic hypertension, and smaller hospital size was associated with significantly higher rate of mortality from aSAH during pregnancy. Worse aSAH severity was associated with lower rate of discharge to home. Like the non-pregnant cohort, the treatment of ruptured aneurysms in pregnancy are increasingly through endovascular approaches. The mode of treatment does not change the mortality or discharge destination.

Conclusions: Pregnancy does not alter mortality or the discharge destination for aSAH. Ruptured aneurysms during pregnancy are increasingly treated endovascularly. Mode of aneurysm treatment does not affect mortality or discharge destination in pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, Ruptured* / complications
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intracranial Aneurysm* / complications
  • Intracranial Aneurysm* / epidemiology
  • Intracranial Aneurysm* / therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / epidemiology
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.