FAMILY HISTORY OF SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE - SUPPLEMENTAL VALUE OF SCRUTINIZING ALL RELATIVES

Objective and methods-To assess the validity of the family history obt ained at the bedside of patients with recent subarachnoid haemorrhage by subsequently contacting all first and second degree relatives, with verification from medical record data. Results-In a prospectively col lected series of 163 patients with recent subarachnoid haemorrhage the history or cause of death could be ascertained in 1259 (98%) of the f irst degree relatives and in 3038 (85%) of the second degree relatives . For first degree relatives only, the sensitivity of the family histo ry at the bedside was 0.75 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.35-0.97 ) and the positive predictive value was 0.55 (95% CI 0.23-0.83); for f irst and second degree relatives together the sensitivity was 0.58 (95 % CI 0.28-0.85) and the positive predictive value was 0.64 (95% CI 0.3 1-0.89). Conclusion-The accuracy of the family history taken at the be dside is modest; a more: thorough collection of data is crucial if the decision is taken to screen relatives based on the family history.