Table 1.

Overall outcome measure rankings from all participants.

Rank	Outcome measure	Overall rating
1	The overall quality of life as reported by the SAH survivor	99
2	The ability to independently manage basic needs such as toileting, feeding, bathing and getting dressed	97
3	A measure of function or a return to baseline function	62
=4	Delayed cerebral ischemia or cerebral infarction (a common complication in the days after SAH that is associated with worse outcomes)	57
=4∧	The ability to independently manage instrumental activities of daily living such as managing finances, shopping, preparing food, and doing laundry	57
6	An assessment of memory and cognitive function	49
7	The ability to walk independently	47
8	Being alive (survival) three months after the subarachnoid hemorrhage	44
=9	A subsequent bleed related to the aneurysm (rebleeding)	38
=9∧	Being able to return to work	38
11	The ability to speak fluently	32
12	The ability to maintain concentration and focus	20
13	Feelings of anxiety and/or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder	11
14	A measure of the overall impact on family and caregivers	7
15	Being discharged from hospital alive	6
16	Symptoms of depression and/or a more general assessment of mood	3
17	The frequency and severity of pain related to the SAH including headaches	−2
18	Vasospasm (the narrowing of arteries) in the first days and weeks after SAH	−17
19	Overall energy levels and how easy it is to fatigue	−29
20	The destination after discharge from hospital (for example home, a rehabilitation facility or a residential care facility)	−52
21	The overall speed of recovery	−65
22	The ability to attend social functions such as dinners, birthdays and other gatherings	−66
23	A return to normal sexual activity and function	−68
24	The ability to return to driving	−69
25	The length of stay in intensive care or hospital	−75
=26	The overall cost of the initial hospital admission	−112
=26∧	The overall cost of rehabilitation and treatment after hospital discharge	−112