Introduction While several risk factors for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) are known, the impact of the socioeconomic status (SES) on UIA incidence remains uncertain.

Aim of Study This study aimed to investigate the association between SES and UIA while correcting for known confounding risk factors.

Methods Retrospective analysis of subjects enrolled in the Hamburg City Health study who underwent intracranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI scans were screened for UIA using time-of-flight angiography. Extensive patient data on risk factors¹ such as age, sex, smoking status, and hypertension were collected. SES was measured using educational level (in years) and household income (in steps of 500 EUR/month). A backward logistic regression model was established, with SES as the independent variable.

Results Among the 2673 included patients, 215 had an UIA. The incidence of UIA was significantly associated with female sex (OR 2.15, CI 1.45-3.20, p<0.001) and hypertension (OR 1.57, CI 1.07-2.33, p=0.022). In univariate analysis, patients with and without an UIA did not differ in median (IQR) educational level of 13.0 years (9.0-17.0) vs. 13.0 years (8.8-17.2) or median (IQR) income of 3250EUR/month (1125-5375EUR) vs. 2750EUR/month (375-5125EUR). In logistic regression analysis, income (OR 0.999, CI 0.999-1.000, p=0.806) and educational level (OR 1.038, CI 0.945-1.136, p=0.432) were not significantly associated with the incidence of UIA.

Conclusion This analysis demonstrates that, when controlling for established risk factors, socioeconomic status, as measured by educational level and household income, does not appear to be an independent risk factor for the incidence of intracranial aneurysms.