The study aims to provide data on authors’ gender distribution with special attention on publications from Europe. Articles (October 2019–March 2020) published in three representative neurosurgical journals (Acta Neurochirurgica, Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery) were analyzed with regard to female participation. Out of 648 publications, 503 original articles were analyzed: 17.5% (n = 670) of the 3.821 authors were female, with 15.7% (n = 79) females as first and 9.5% (n = 48) as last authors. The lowest ratio of female first and last authors was seen in original articles published in the JNS (12.3%/7.7% vs. Neurosurgery 14.9%/10.6% and Acta 23.0/11.5%). Articles originated in Europe made up 29.8% (female author ratio 21.1% (n = 226)). Female first authorship was seen in 20.7% and last authorship in 10.7% (15.3% and 7.3% were affiliated to a neurosurgical department). The percentages of female authorship were lower if non-original articles (n = 145) were analyzed (11.7% first/4.8% last authorships). Female participation in editorial boards was 8.0%. Considering the percentages of European female neurosurgeons, the current data are proportional. However, the lack of female last authors, the discrepancy regarding non-original articles and the composition of the editorial boards indicate that there still is a structural underrepresentation and that females are limited in achieving powerful positions.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is over twice as common in females compared to males, who may also experience more severe hemorrhages and worse outcomes. Differences in SAH severity, susceptibility to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and treatment responsiveness may underlie this disparity. This study evaluated sex-based differences in DCI timing, severity, treatment responsiveness, and outcomes after SAH. Methods: We analyzed 650 consecutive SAH patients admitted to RWTH Aachen University Hospital (2006–2021). SAH severity was assessed via the (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons) WFNS and modified Fisher scales. DCI-related infarction was defined as new infarcts on CT not present initially or within 48 h post-aneurysm occlusion. Endovascular rescue therapy (ERT) was used for treatment-resistant DCI. Outcomes were assessed at discharge and 12 months using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Generalized linear mixed-effects models adjusted for confounders. Results: Of 650 patients, 455 (70%) were female. DCI rates did not differ significantly between sexes (41.5% female vs. 36.4% male; p = 0.361). DCI-related infarction occurred in 19.4% of patients, with no sex-based differences in infarct volume (median 115 mL; p = 0.670) or location. ERT use was similar in females (22.4%) and males (23.9%; p = 0.825). Lower age, poor-grade SAH, and higher mFisher scores were associated with DCI and poor outcomes, but sex was not an independent predictor. Conclusions: Female sex was not associated with more severe SAH, a higher incidence of DCI, or more severe DCI manifestations. Although small effect sizes may become statistically significant in larger cohorts, our findings indicate that such effects are unlikely to be driven by differences in DCI timing, infarct size, or treatment responsiveness.