Recovery and rehabilitation following subarachnoid haemorrhage: part II long term follow up

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