Characteristics | Overall population N=2412 (%) | Non-SAH N=2218 (%) | SAH N=194 (%) | p Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SD) age (years) | 44.89 (16.8) | 44.20 (16.9) | 52.73 (13.0) | <0.001 |
Age range (years) | 15–93 | 15–93 | 15–85 | – |
CTAS* | ||||
I–II | 550 (22.8) | 493 (22.2) | 57 (29.4) | |
III | 1549 (64.2) | 1427 (64.3) | 122 (62.9) | 0.014 |
IV–V | 313 (13.0) | 298 (13.4) | 15 (7.7) | |
Female | 1420 (58.9) | 1301 (58.7) | 119 (61.3) | 0.466 |
Arrival by ambulance | 591 (24.5) | 482 (21.7) | 109 (56.2) | <0.001 |
Transfer from another hospital | 262 (10.9) | 229 (10.3) | 33 (17.0) | 0.004 |
Median (IQR) time from onset to peak (s) | 30 (1–300) | 5 (1–60) | 30 (1–300) | – |
Time from onset to peak (s) | ||||
0–1 | 695 (28.8) | 621 (28.0) | 74 (38.1) | |
2–30 | 583 (24.2) | 529 (23.9) | 54 (27.8) | <0.001 |
31–300 | 573 (23.8) | 529 (23.9) | 44 (22.7) | |
>300 | 561 (23.3) | 539 (24.3) | 22 (11.3) | |
Median (IQR) pain severity at peak (scale 0–10) | 10 (8–10) | 10 (8–10) | 10 (9–10) | <0.001 |
Onset during exertion | 310 (12.9) | 269 (12.1) | 41 (21.1) | <0.001 |
Onset during sexual activity | 168 (7.0) | 157 (7.1) | 11 (5.7) | 0.460 |
Headache awoke patient from sleep | 431 (17.9) | 410 (18.5) | 21 (10.8) | 0.008 |
Worst headache of life | 2037 (84.5) | 1850 (83.4) | 187 (96.4) | <0.001 |
Loss of consciousness | 138 (5.7) | 111 (5.0) | 27 (13.9) | <0.001 |
Witnessed loss of consciousness | 85 (3.5) | 70 (3.2) | 15 (7.7) | <0.001 |
Complaint of neck stiffness or pain | 898 (37.2) | 746 (33.6) | 152 (78.4) | <0.001 |
Vomiting | 721 (29.9) | 594 (26.8) | 127 (65.5) | <0.001 |
Patient had neck stiffness with flexion or extension | 147 (6.1) | 88 (4.0) | 59 (30.4) | <0.001 |
Mean (SD) HR (bpm) | 79.17 (15.3) | 79.24 (15.4) | 78.35 (13.4) | 0.384 |
Mean (SD) systolic BP (mm Hg) | 143.29 (24.1) | 142.20 (23.5) | 155.5 (27.2) | <0.001 |
Mean (SD) diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 81.93 (13.7) | 81.54 (13.6) | 86.46 (14.4) | <0.001 |
Diagnostic procedures and disposition | ||||
CT | 2412 (100) | 2218 (100) | 194 (100) | – |
LP | 1222 (50.7) | 1193 (53.8) | 29 (14.9) | <0.001 |
Both CT and LP | 1222 (50.7) | 1193 (53.8) | 29 (14.9) | <0.001 |
Cerebral angiography | 206 (8.5) | 117 (5.3) | 89 (45.9) | <0.001 |
Admitted to hospital | 273 (11.3) | 93 (4.2) | 180 (92.8) | <0.001 |
Died | 11 (0.5) | 0 (0) | 11 (5.7) | <0.001 |
Final diagnosis | ||||
Benign headache | 1348 (55.9) | 1348 (60.8) | 0 | <0.001 |
Migraine headache | 506 (21.0) | 506 (22.8) | 0 | <0.001 |
Viral illness | 60 (2.5) | 60 (2.7) | 0 | 0.020 |
Ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack | 45 (1.9) | 45 (2.0) | 0 | 0.045 |
Postcoital headache | 42 (1.7) | 42 (1.9) | 0 | 0.053 |
Sinusitis | 34 (1.4) | 34 (1.5) | 0 | 0.083 |
Vasovagal syncope | 21 (0.9) | 21 (0.9) | 0 | 0.174 |
Neck strain | 9 (0.4) | 9 (0.4) | 0 | 0.374 |
Brain tumour | 8 (0.3) | 8 (0.4) | 0 | 0.402 |
Hypoglycaemia | 2 (0.1) | 2 (0.1) | 0 | 0.676 |
Intracerebral haemorrhage | 6 (0.2) | 6 (0.3) | 0 | 0.468 |
Subdural haematoma | 4 (0.2) | 4 (0.2) | 0 | 0.554 |
Bacterial meningitis | 2 (0.1) | 2 (0.1) | 0 | 0.676 |
*CTAS is a five-level scale, which categorises patients into acuity of illness with level defined as follows: I, Resuscitation; II, Emergent; III, Urgent; IV, Less Urgent; V- Non-Urgent.
CTAS, Canadian Triage Acuity Scale; LP, lumbar puncture; SAH, subarachnoid haemorrhage.