Population-based study of comorbidities in unruptured brain aneurysms using complex network analysis

Abstract

Complex network analysis is a relatively new method of analysis in medical research. It can be utilized in population- based study of different comorbidities. The aim of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of complex network methodology in analysis comorbidities in unruptured brain aneurysms patients. Material and methods. A comprehensive network analysis of a sample of 628,831 individuals was performed, after constructing bipartite networks all the connections between index diagnosis and revealed comorbidities were statistically validated. Results and discussion. Altogether, 1787 patients with unruptured aneurysm were identified (ICD code I67.1). After complex network analysis bipartite networks were established based on index diagnosis, there were 182 codes of comorbidities. Of those, 150 from 182 codes (82 %) were found in people aged from 40 to 70 years, men had 67 (37 %) codes and women had 115 (63 %). In addition to traditional discirculatory and heart diseases, analysis elucidated previously scarcely described comorbidities including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-smokers women older than 60 years. Conclusion. Demonstrated data shows the effectiveness of network complex analysis in population-based research of comorbidities in unruptured aneurysm patients.

Keywords

• complex network analysis
• medical data
• unruptured brain aneurysms
• comorbidities