Development of a questionnaire to identify persons with a family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: Preventive screening for intracranial aneurysms is effective in persons with a positive family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but for many relatives of aSAH patients, it can be difficult to assess whether their relative had an aSAH or another type of stroke. Aim: We aimed to develop a family history questionnaire for people in the population who believe they have a first-degree relative who had a stroke and to assess its accuracy to identify relatives of aSAH patients. Methods: A questionnaire to distinguish between aSAH and other stroke types (ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage) was developed by a team of clinicians and consumers. The level of agreement between the questionnaire outcome and medical diagnosis was pilot tested in 30 previously admitted aSAH patients. Next, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire were assessed in 91 first-degree relatives (siblings/children) of previously admitted stroke patients. Results: All 30 aSAH patients were identified by the questionnaire in the pilot study; 29 of 30 first-degree relatives of aSAH patients were correctly identified. The questionnaire had a sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 83–100%) and a specificity of 93% (95% CI = 84–98%) when tested in the first-degree relatives of stroke patients. Conclusion: Our questionnaire can help persons to discriminate an aSAH from other types of stroke in their affected relative. This family history questionnaire is developed in the Netherlands but could also be used in other countries after validation.