Outcomes of chronic subdural hematoma and their correlations with old age

Abstract

Objective: This study explored the prognostic factors of chronic subdural hematoma in patients who underwent burr hole drainage, both overall and in elderly patients.

Methods: This study enrolled 120 patients with chronic subdural hematoma who underwent burr hole drainage at a single center between January 2016 and December 2020. Old age was defined as ≥65 years, and a good prognosis was defined as a decrease in the modified Rankin scale from admission to the last follow-up. Factors correlated with good prognosis in elderly patients compared with total patients were evaluated using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Results: Among the 120 patients, 66 (55.0%) were ≥65 years old, and 76 (63.3%) had severe symptoms on admission. Old age (≥65) was the only factor significantly correlated with severe symptoms (P=0.021; odds ratio [OR], 2.618; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.154–5.942). The following variables were significantly associated with the prognosis in both groups: diabetes (total: P=0.008; OR, 0.207; 95% CI, 0.064–0.664; old age: P=0.011; OR, 0.172; 95% CI, 0.044–0.672) and severe symptoms on admission (total: P<0.001; OR, 6.994; 95% CI, 2.771–17.399; old age: P=0.007; OR, 6.177; 95% CI, 1.656–23.046).

Conclusion: No difference in prognostic factors was observed between the overall patients and elderly patients with chronic subdural hematoma who underwent burr hole drainage. In both groups, patients without diabetes or with severe symptoms during hospitalization showed better recovery after burr hole drainage.