Epidemiological study of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region (Quebec, Canada)

Background: Using a population-based register of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region (Quebec, Canada), tile genealogical reconstruction of 533 individuals with intracranial aneurysm (IA) showed a familial aggregation (the presence of aneurysm in two or more first- to third-degree relatives) For 159 (29.8%) of them, this proportion is much higher than reported elsewhere. Objective: As part of an ongoing project to assess a genetic predisposition to intracranial aneurysms in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean population, the objective oi the present study was to determine whether age-specific rates of ruptured cerebral aneurysms were higher than in other populations, Design: A retrospective study of cases of proven ruptured IAs which were hospitalized during the 1973 to 1992 period was conducted. Age-adjusted rates were computed and compared to those reported in the Helsinki population, Results: Wa identified 412 cases of ruptured aneurysms, The age-adjusted incidence rate was 7.2/100,000/year (6.2 for men, 8.1 for women), which is similar to the incidence rates reported in other studies. Although the mean age at time of rupture was younger (46.6 years +/- 13.8) than usually reported, no increase in age-specific incidence rates tvas detected, Conclusions: The results of this epidemiological study neither support nor reject the hypothesis of a genetic predisposition to intracranial aneurysms in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean population.