Endovascular Coiling vs. Surgical Clipping for Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms: Does Patient Age Matter?

What effect does patient age have on outcomes after coiling versus clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms? To find out, researchers analyzed data from a U.S. hospital-discharge database of roughly 64,000 people who had undergone either procedure from 2001 through 2008. Patients were stratified into four age groups: (<50, 50–64, 65–79, ≥80), and the primary endpoints were morbidity (defined as discharge to a long-term care facility) and in-hospital mortality.

Except for mortality risk in the youngest group, risks for death and disability were significantly smaller after coiling than after clipping in each age group. Age seemed to have a dose–response effect, with patients aged 80 and older showing the highest risks and greatest differe…