The Effect of Cognitive Deficit on Functional Outcome in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional outcome with regard to cognitive deficits in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHOD: Two hundred thirty-four patients who underwent surgical procedure for aneurysmal SAH were enrolled. Medical records of the patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Mental confusion (52.1%) was more common symptom than the motor (20.3%) and language (30.9%) impairment in patients with aneurysmal SAH. Neurological grade at admission (Hunt and Hess grade), cerebral vasospasm, and mental confusion were major prognostic factors. In terms of functional outcome, patients with mental confusion showed lower Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at admission and on discharge, lower FIM gain and FIM efficiency, and longer hospital stay with statistical significance than those without confusion. CONCLUSION: The patients with cognitive deficits achieved poor functional outcome in the patients with aneurysmal SAH. More attention to cognitive impairment is necessary to achieve better rehabilitation goal.