Neurologic assessment of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a large patient series.

Data from the International Cooperative Aneurysm Study including 3521 cases of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were used to statistically derive a simple scoring method for assessing neurologic status of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. Discriminant analysis was used to identify the best combination and weighting of seven neurologic assessment variables to classify outcomes at 6 months post-subarachnoid hemorrhage. The sum of eye opening response and worst motor response classified patient outcomes nearly as well as all variables combined. The validity of this summary score was tested using good recovery and mortality endpoints. The result is a useful scale for classifying subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.