Working Status in Patients With Untreated Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Descriptive Longitudinal Study

Neurosurgery 96:660–666, 2025

The study assessed the working status of Norwegian patients with untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) from 2008 to 2018. It found that these patients had significantly lower work participation pre- and post-diagnosis compared to the general population, highlighting potential psychological and health burdens.

Study Overview

• Objective: Assess working status in patients with untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

• Design: Retrospective nationwide registry-based descriptive longitudinal study.

Key Findings

• Working Status Decline: From 62.1% prediagnosis to 51.3% postdiagnosis in patients.

• Comparison with Controls: Controls decreased from 77.9% to 73.4% in the same period.

• Odds of Working: 86.7% lower in patients than controls postdiagnosis.

• Death Rate: 2.4% of patients died during the 1-year follow-up.

Statistical Analysis

• Predictive Factors: Older age and sickness absence prediagnosis reduce postdiagnosis working status.

• Regression Model: Controlled for age, sex, and baseline working status.

Discussion Points

• Psychological Impact: UIA diagnosis causes stress, anxiety, and reduced work-life participation.

• Comorbidities: Patients may have additional health issues affecting working status.

Limitations

• Data Limitations: Lack of comorbidity and aneurysm characteristic data.

• Country-Specific Factors: Results may not apply to countries outside Norway.