Spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a serious cerebrovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality.Determining the factors associated with mortality in the ICU follow-up and treatment of patients with spontaneous SAH is very important for clarifying these uncertainties and improving ICU outcomes.In the literature, there are very few studies analysing ICU mortality and mortality-related factors in this patient group.The aim of this study was to determine the demographic/clinical characteristics and factors affecting the mortality of spontaneous SAH patients admitted in the ICU.

Patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosis of spontaneous SAH and admitted the ICU were included in the study. The diagnosis of spontaneous SAH was based on the brain computed tomography (CT) or lumbar puncture. Patients with a final outcome (survival or mortality) in our centre were included in the analysis were included. Only patients admitted to the ICU for the first time were included. Patients with traumatic SAH, history of significant head trauma in the previous two weeks (any abnormality on brain CT requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours), pregnancy and length of ICU stay ≤24 hours were excluded.The clinical and radiological severity of the patients at ICU admission was according to Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score (APACHE II), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Modified Fisher Scale, World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) and Hunt and Hess (H&H) grading systems.Demographic and clinical data derived and analyzed included age, sex, smoking history, comorbidities. Presenting signs and symptoms, diagnoses responsible for spontaneous SAH (aneurysm, arterial malformation, etc.), site of aneurysm, risk factors, location of the aneurysm, risk factors, blood pressure during ICU admission, and scores from grading systems indicating clinical and radiological severity of the disease were recorded. Procedures for spontaneous SAH, complications during ICU follow-up (vasospasm, meningitis, electrolyte disturbances, rebleeding, DCI, VIP, sepsis/septic shock) and treatments, duration of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation, ICU outcome (survival or mortality), causes of mortality and brain death status were recorded. According to the outcome of the ICU process, the patients were divided into two groups as survival and mortality.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged ≥18 years with a confrmed diagnosis of spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage by a brain computed tomography (CT)
• Patients with a final outcome (survival or mortality) in our centre

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with traumatic SAH
• History of significant head trauma in the previous two weeks (any abnormality on brain CT requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours)
• Pregnancy
• Length of intensive care unit stay ≤24 hours

Patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosis of spontaneous SAH and admitted the intensive care unit were included in the study.