Individual-level quality-of-life changes are common after aneurysm screening in women: A prospective cohort study
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Hospital & University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Abstract
Introduction: Screening for intracranial aneurysms enables the treatment of lesions at risk of rupture, but concerns remain about its psychological effects. We investigated the impact of screening on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 50–60-year-old female smokers.
Research question: How does aneurysm screening affect HRQoL?
Methods: HRQoL was prospectively assessed using 15D and EQ-5D-3L before, 3 months, and 12 months after screening. Changes in individual HRQoL domains were analyzed, and MIC thresholds were used to define clinically relevant changes in the EQ index and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Linear mixed models determined whether the timepoint, computed tomography angiography (CTA) results, or their interaction affected EQ outcomes.
Results: Of 108 women, 13 had abnormal vascular findings, and two underwent surgery. Three-month follow-up questionnaires were returned by 92 participants and 57 completed the 12-month follow-up. Linear mixed models showed no effect of timepoint, CTA results, or their interaction on EQ index or EQ VAS. Nevertheless, 54 participants (59%) deteriorated in at least one 15D domain, including depression (n = 14), sleep (n = 12), and anxiety (n = 9). Sixty-seven reported improvements, notably in sleep (n = 22), symptoms and discomfort (n = 19), and vitality (n = 19). By MIC thresholds, 11 participants showed clinically significant EQ index worsening and nine improvement.
Discussion and conclusion: Overall EQ-5D scores suggested no HRQoL impairment, but individual-level analyses revealed worsening of anxiety and depression irrespective of screening results. Standard HRQoL instruments may miss psychosocial effects of screening. Future studies should incorporate pre-invitation baseline assessments and anxiety-specific measures alongside generic HRQoL questionnaires.
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BibTeX
@article{schildt2026individuallevel,
title = {{Individual-level quality-of-life changes are common after aneurysm screening in women: A prospective cohort study}},
author = {Andrei Schildt and Ville Vasankari and Jussi Numminen and Mika Niemelä and Miikka Korja and Justiina Huhtakangas},
journal = {Brain \& Spine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.bas.2026.107491},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2026.107491},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Individual-level quality-of-life changes are common after aneurysm screening in women: A prospective cohort study
AU - Andrei Schildt
AU - Ville Vasankari
AU - Jussi Numminen
AU - Mika Niemelä
AU - Miikka Korja
AU - Justiina Huhtakangas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Brain & Spine
DO - 10.1016/j.bas.2026.107491
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2026.107491
AB - Introduction: Screening for intracranial aneurysms enables the treatment of lesions at risk of rupture, but concerns remain about its psychological effects. We investigated the impact of screening on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 50–60-year-old female smokers. Research question: How does aneurysm screening affect HRQoL? Methods: HRQoL was prospectively assessed using 15D and EQ-5D-3L before, 3 months, and 12 months after screening. Changes in individual HRQoL domains were analyzed, and MIC thresholds were used to define clinically relevant changes in the EQ index and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). Linear mixed models determined whether the timepoint, computed tomography angiography (CTA) results, or their interaction affected EQ outcomes. Results: Of 108 women, 13 had abnormal vascular findings, and two underwent surgery. Three-month follow-up questionnaires were returned by 92 participants and 57 completed the 12-month follow-up. Linear mixed models showed no effect of timepoint, CTA results, or their interaction on EQ index or EQ VAS. Nevertheless, 54 participants (59%) deteriorated in at least one 15D domain, including depression (n = 14), sleep (n = 12), and anxiety (n = 9). Sixty-seven reported improvements, notably in sleep (n = 22), symptoms and discomfort (n = 19), and vitality (n = 19). By MIC thresholds, 11 participants showed clinically significant EQ index worsening and nine improvement. Discussion and conclusion: Overall EQ-5D scores suggested no HRQoL impairment, but individual-level analyses revealed worsening of anxiety and depression irrespective of screening results. Standard HRQoL instruments may miss psychosocial effects of screening. Future studies should incorporate pre-invitation baseline assessments and anxiety-specific measures alongside generic HRQoL questionnaires.
SN - 2772-5294
ER -