A Gender-Based Comparative Aneurysm Study Regarding Age at Presentation, Location, and Possible Causative Factors

INTRODUCTION: The worldwide prevalence of cerebral aneurysms is estimated at 3.2%, with a female predominance of 2: 1. A significant gender-specific difference also exists regarding the aneurysm location. This study aimed to find out if the South African population falls within these parameters.
METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study. The data (gender and age of patients), infarct locations and causative factors present for the 485 patients was obtained from the departments’ logbooks and noted from 1 January 2015 until 31 July 2019. Only patients that showed evidence of aneurysms for the first time were included in this study to avoid duplication of the data.
RESULTS: The mean age regardless of gender for this South African based population study was 53.1±13.0 years. Males were mainly affected in the age group 51-60 years of age. Females were more broadly affected: 51-60 years (29.8%), 41-50 years (26.8%) and 61-70 years (20.2%). The male to female ratio was 1: 2.17. Two hundred and fifty (52.6%) patients had hypertension. Smoking affected 174 (35.9%) participants and hypercholesterolemia affected 90 (18.6%) patients. The most predominant aneurysm location was the anterior communicating artery.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The South African aneurysm statistics correlate with available international data when we assess the male to female ratio. Hypertension was the leading possible cause of aneurysms, which also correlates with the literature. A family history of aneurysms should be included in the questionnaire in the future as it is one of the biggest possible risk factors to develop aneurysms.