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Background and Purpose: Knowledge about risk factors contributes to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms that cause intracranial aneurysm rupture and helps to develop possible treatment strategies. We aimed to study lifestyle and personal characteristics as risk factors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysms., Methods: We performed a case-control study with 250 patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and 206 patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm. All patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and patients with a unruptured intracranial aneurysm were asked to fill in a structured questionnaire about their lifestyle and medical history. For patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm, we also collected data on the indication for imaging. With logistic regression analysis, we identified independent risk factors for aneurysmal rupture., Results: Reasons for imaging in patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm were atherosclerotic disease (23%), positive family history (18%), headache (8%), preventive screening (3%), and other (46%). Factors that increased risk for aneurysmal rupture were smoking (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.0) and migraine (2.4; 1.1-5.1); hypercholesterolemia decreased this risk (0.4; 0.2-1.0), whereas a history of hypertension did not independently influence the risk., Conclusions: Smoking, migraine and, inversely, hypercholesterolemia are independent risk factors for aneurysmal rupture. Data from the questionnaire are insufficient to conclude whether hypercholesterolemia or its treatment with statins exerts a risk-reducing effect. The pathophysiological mechanisms through which smoking and migraine increase the risk of aneurysmal rupture should be investigated in further studies. Although a history of hypertension does not increase risk of rupture, a sudden rise in blood pressure might still trigger aneurysmal rupture.

Background and Purpose: Three percent of the population has an unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA). We aimed to identify independent risk factors from lifestyle and medical history for the presence of UIAs and to investigate the combined effect of well-established risk factors., Methods: We studied 206 patients with an UIA who never had a subarachnoid hemorrhage and 574 controls who were randomly retrieved from general practitioner files. All participants filled in a questionnaire on potential risk factors for UIAs. With logistic regression analysis, we identified independent risk factors for UIA and assessed their combined effect., Results: Independent risk factors were current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-4.5), hypertension (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.9-4.6), family history of stroke other than subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.5), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9), and regular physical exercise (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9). The joint risk of smoking and hypertension was higher (OR, 8.3; 95% CI, 4.5-15.2) than the sum of the risks independently., Conclusions: Current smoking, hypertension, and family history of stroke increase the risk of UIA, with smoking and hypertension having an additive effect, whereas hypercholesterolemia and regular physical exercise decrease this risk. A healthy lifestyle probably reduces the risk of UIA and thereby possibly also that of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Whether smoking and hypertension increase the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage only through an increased risk of aneurysm formation or also through an increased risk of rupture remains to be established.

Background and Purpose: Little is known about activities that trigger rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Knowledge on what triggers aneurysmal rupture increases insight into the pathophysiology and facilitates development of prevention strategies. We therefore aimed to identify and quantify trigger factors for aneurysmal rupture and to gain insight into the pathophysiology., Methods: During a 3-year period, 250 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage completed a structured questionnaire regarding exposure to 30 potential trigger factors in the period soon before subarachnoid hemorrhage (hazard period) and for usual frequency and intensity of exposure. We assessed relative risks (RR) of rupture after exposure to triggers with the case-crossover design comparing exposure in the hazard period with the usual frequency of exposure. Additionally, we calculated population-attributable risks., Results: Eight triggers increased the risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage: coffee consumption (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), cola consumption (RR, 3.4; 95% CI,1.5-7.9), anger (RR, 6.3; 95% CI, 4.6-25), startling (RR, 23.3; 95% CI, 4.2-128), straining for defecation (RR, 7.3; 95% CI, 2.9-19), sexual intercourse (RR, 11.2; 95% CI, 5.3-24), nose blowing (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.5), and vigorous physical exercise (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.2). The highest population-attributable risks were found for coffee consumption (10.6%) and vigorous physical exercise (7.9%)., Conclusions: We identified and quantified 8 trigger factors for aneurysmal rupture. All triggers induce a sudden and short increase in blood pressure, which seems a possible common cause for aneurysmal rupture. Some triggers are modifiable, and further studies should assess whether reduction of exposure to these factors or measures preventing sudden increase in blood pressure decrease the risk of rupture in patients known to have an intracranial aneurysm.