Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41134732›Full record

SynthesisCerebrovascular diseases (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Sex Disparities in Intracranial Aneurysm Trial Participation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Helena C Janssen, Paut Greebe, Katherine Sawicka, Melanie Anderson, Gabriel J E Rinkel, Joanna D Schaafsma

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cerebrovascular diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Helena C JanssenDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, janssen.helena.c@gmail.com.
Paut GreebeDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Katherine SawickaDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Melanie AndersonDepartment of Library and Information Services, Institute for Education Research University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gabriel J E RinkelDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Joanna D SchaafsmaDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

<p>Introduction: Females have a higher incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and a higher prevalence and rupture risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms than men. Underrepresentation of females in clinical trials would, therefore, limit their generalizability. The study aimed to evaluate sex disparities in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysm trial enrollment and identify factors influencing female representation.

methodsThe authors searched Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://Clinicaltrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Clinicaltrials.gov</ext-link>, and International Clinical Trials Registry for clinical trials on aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or unruptured intracranial aneurysms, published before June 2023, with ≥100 adult patients, requiring informed consent for participation. The primary outcome was the proportion of female patients enrolled. Random effects meta-analysis was performed, and multivariate beta-regression was used to assess the impact of trial characteristics and predefined subgroups on female participation.

resultsA total of 134 trials were included, with a total of 38,042 patients. Meta-analysis of the proportions of female participants resulted in a pooled proportion of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.63-0.66). Female participation was higher in trials on endovascular treatment (beta-estimate 1.32; 95% CI: 1.01-1.71) and in multicenter studies (beta-estimate 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01-1.33) but lower in Asian (beta-estimate 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.95) and South American trials (beta-estimate 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47-0.97). Recruitment and consent procedures, sex of primary investigator, or burden of trial participation had no significant impact on female representation. Time trend analysis showed no statistically significant change in female participation over time.

conclusionFemales are not underrepresented in clinical trials for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Female participation is higher in trials on endovascular treatment and in multicenter studies and has regional differences, but other factors did not influence female representation. Our findings imply a good generalizability regarding sex distribution of the study results, strengthening the evidence guiding current clinical practice. </p>.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicHealthcare DisparitiesIntracranial AneurysmPatient SelectionResearch SubjectsSubarachnoid HemorrhageAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsSex FactorsAneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhageSex disparitiesTrial participationUnruptured intracranial aneurysm

Identifiers

PMID41134732
PMCPMC12705092

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.