A new study from a single medical center suggests that a simple model using five factors available at hospital admission can accurately predict recovery three months after a type of bleeding stroke called aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The model includes age, pre-stroke disability, severity of the bleed, amount of blood on CT scan, and presence of bleeding into the brain tissue.
Researchers tested the model on 245 patients treated at one center. The model showed good ability to distinguish which patients would achieve a good outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3, meaning they could walk without help and manage their own affairs). The model performed well in both the development group and a separate validation group.
However, the model was less accurate in patients aged 70 and older, and the study was done at a single center, so results may not apply to all hospitals. The model needs to be tested in multiple centers before it can be widely used.
For now, this tool may help doctors have early conversations with families about likely recovery, but it should not be used alone to make treatment decisions. More research is needed to confirm its usefulness.