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Background and purpose: Subarachnoid haemorrhage SAH accounts for 5-10 of all strokes, strikes at a mean age of 50 years and results in a pattern of deficits similar to that of traumatic brain injury. This study is an extension of a previous study which described outcome at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The purpose of this follow up study was to describe long term functional, cognitive and psychosocial outcome in a cohort of SAH survivors who received inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Subjects were interviewed by telephone. Functional status was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure FIM and cognitive status with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status TICS. Social function was determined via a brief questionnaire. Results: Thirty two out of 80 subjects who received inpatient rehabilitation participated in the study. The 32 did not differ from the original group of 80 on any demographic or clinical criteria. The mean time from onset of SAH to follow up was 28 months. Total FIM scores improved significantly between discharge and follow up p<0.0001 and most subjects functioned at a physically indepen dent level. However, almost 40 scored in the cognitively impaired range on the TICS. Between 40 and 50 required help with common household activities, and none returned to full time work. Functional and cognitive outcome was not related to any demographic or clinical characteristics at SAH onset. Conclusion: The majority of SAH survivors who received inpatient rehabilitation attain physical independence, but many continue to have cognitive impairments which result in social and vocational disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose : Although subarachnoid haemorrhage SAH is a subtype of stroke, functional outcome following rehabilitation for SAH must be considered distinct from that of cerebral infarction because of the younger age and the difference in pathology and resultant neurologic deficits. The purposes of this study were to: 1 describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of SAH patients receiving rehabilitation; 2 describe functional outcomes following inpatient rehabilitation; and 3 investigate possible relationships between patient characteristics and functional outcomes. Methods : Retrospective chart review of SAH patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. Functional Outcomes rated by the Functional Independence Measures FIM . Analysis with descriptive and nonparametric statistics. Results : Eighty patients with SAH admitted to a rehabilitation unit with a mean age of 54 years. Fifty seven had identified aneurysms as a cause of SAH. Seventy four subjects 93 presented with Hunt and Hess grades of 3-5. The median length of stay was 26 days in acute care and 49 days in rehabili tation. Seventy patients 88 were discharged home. The mean admission FIM was 59.5 and mean discharge FIM 91.0. The FIM efficiency aggregate change in FIM day was 0.62 day and the average rate of FIM gain 0.97 points day. Hydrocephalus negatively influenced outcome p=0.05 . There was a trend for subjects with worse Hunt and Hess scores at onset to have poorer discharge FIM scores. Conclusion : SAH patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation make functional gains, although the rate of gain is less than for TBI or stroke. These SAH patients represent a subgroup with more severe SAH at onset than the total population of SAH survivors. The presence of hydrocephalus negatively impacts on outcome. Further detailed study of functional and neuropsychological outcome in SAH survivors is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]