Trend of cerebral aneurysms over the past two centuries: need for early screening

• Published in: BMJ open 2024-02, Vol.14 (2), p.e081290-e081290
• Main Authors: Burlakoti, Arjun, Kumaratilake, Jaliya, Taylor, Jamie, Henneberg, Maciej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aneurysm, Ruptured - epidemiology; Aneurysms; Cerebral Angiography - methods; Circle of Willis; community child health; Computed Tomography Angiography; Female; Females; health policy; Humans; Intracranial Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging; Male; mass screening; Middle Aged; Neurology; Patients; Retrospective Studies; stroke; Trends; Veins & arteries; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081290

ObjectiveCerebral aneurysms (CAs) are linked to variations in the cerebral basal arterial network (CBAN). This study aimed to find the optimal age for screening to detect brain arterial variations and predict aneurysms before rupture.DesignAn observational, quantitative and retrospective research.SettingThe study analysed 1127 cases of CAs published from 1761 to 1938. Additionally, CT angiography images of 173-patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH), South Australia between 2011 and 2019 were examined for the presence and the location of aneurysms in CBAN.ParticipantsThe data were collected from patients at RAH and 407 published sources, including males and females across the entire age range, up to 100 years old.Outcome measures and resultsData, CAs cases, from 1761 to 1938 included (526 males, 573 females and 28 unknown sexes). The age of these patients varied from 18 months to 89 years (mean age=42, SD=18). Approximately 11.5% of the CAs occurred in patients aged