gms | German Medical Science

Objective: The age specific risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can be only imperfectly modeled from single- or multicenter registries. We tried to calculate the age-related annual risk of SAH by the use of the National Database of the Federal Statistic Agency (Statistisches Bundesamt). The analysis was based on the data records of five consecutive years.

Method: Detailed datasets were requested from the Federal Statistic Agency (Statistisches Bundesamt Wiesbaden). All patients admitted to a German hospital with the main ICD code I60 for non-traumatic SAH from the years 2009-2013 were analyzed. Absolute numbers of admissions where analyzed and age-specific incidence rates were calculated through comparison with the demographic distribution in Germany for the year 2011.

Results: The overall numbers of SAH in the recorded years in the German population of 80 million citizens were stable and varied only between 10895 and 11104 per year which would represent an average incidence of 13.8 per 100000 / year independent of age. With respect to age, incidence rates were small in the age group under 20 years (1.3 / 100,000 / year) (and increased up to an intermediate maximum between 45 and 65 (mean: 22 / 100,000 / year). The rates decreased in the age group of 65-70 years (15 /100,000 / year) and then increased again to a peak in the age group of 80-85 years (34 / 100,000/ year).

Conclusions: The present analysis provided precise data regarding current rates of SAH in Germany, excluding patients not admitted to any hospital. In addition, more detailed information could be obtained regarding the age-specific risk profile of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The reason for the relatively lower incidence rate in the generation born during or shortly after the war remains unclear.