Modifiable Risk Factors for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Narrative Review With an Emphasis on Common Controversies and Epidemiologic Pitfalls.

Abstract

Given the relatively low incidence, high prehospital death rate, substantial geographical differences, and complex disease origin (combination of genetic and environmental risk factors), epidemiologic research on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and its risk factors is challenging. In practice, we are more or less forced to exploit compromised study designs and nonrepresentative data in such circumstances where it is almost impossible to gather comprehensive data through an optimal design. For example, hospital-based patient cohorts, administrative data repositories, and short-term population-based studies from small geographical regions are often used to research the incidence, case fatality, and risk factors of SAH, regardless of their inherent and self-evident limitations. Since studies on the epidemiology of SAH focus largely on identifying possible risk factors that could aid in disease diagnostics, treatment, and prevention, we aimed to review recent evidence on modifiable risk factors for SAH. In this context, we also try to explain the methodological reasons behind some of the conflicting results and to discuss the primary strengths and limitations of different study designs used in the field of SAH epidemiology. Based on our findings, smoking, high blood pressure, and possibly low physical activity are the only risk factors with high-quality evidence supporting their causal role in SAH. In addition, since all 3 commonly used study designs in SAH epidemiology, namely, hospital-based, population-based, and administrative register-based studies, have their own strengths and limitations, the most robust risk factor estimates and other epidemiologic measures of SAH can likely be established by combining various overlapping and high-quality sources of information in the future.