Family history of subarachnoid haemorrhage: supplemental value of scrutinizing all relatives

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 273 - 275
• Main Authors: Greebe, P, Bromberg, J E, Rinkel, G J, Algra, A, van Gijn, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.03.1997; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Confidence Intervals; Data Collection; Humans; Medical History Taking; Medical sciences; Neurology; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - genetics; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - mortality; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Human; Nervous system diseases; Family study; Cardiovascular disease; Medical screening; Epidemiology; Hemorrhage; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Family story; Sensitivity; Central nervous system disease; Subarachnoid; Predictive value; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.62.3.273

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To assess the validity of the family history obtained at the bedside of patients with recent subarachnoid haemorrhage by subsequently contacting all first and second degree relatives, with verification from medical record data. RESULTS: In a prospectively collected series of 163 patients with recent subarachnoid haemorrhage the history or cause of death could be ascertained in 1259 (98%) of the first degree relatives and in 3038 (85%) of the second degree relatives. For first degree relatives only, the sensitivity of the family history at the bedside was 0.75 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.35-0.97) and the positive predictive value was 0.55 (95% CI 0.23-0.83); for first and second degree relatives together the sensitivity was 0.58 (95% CI 0.28-0.85) and the positive predictive value was 0.64 (95% CI 0.31-0.89). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the family history taken at the bedside is modest; a more thorough collection of data is crucial if the decision is taken to screen relatives based on the family history.