Long-Term Functional Outcome and Quality of Life Following In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest-A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the functional outcome and health-related quality of life of in-hospital cardiac arrest survivors at 6 and 12 months. DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Seven metropolitan hospitals in Australia. PATIENTS: Data were collected for hospitalized adults (≥ 18 yr) who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest, defined as "a period of unresponsiveness, with no observed respiratory effort and the commencement of external cardiac compressions." INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Prior to hospital discharge, patients were approached for consent to participate in 6-month and 12-month telephone interviews. Outcomes included the modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, Euro-Quality of Life 5 Dimension 5 Level, return to work and hospital readmissions. Forty-eight patients (80%) consented to follow-up interviews. The mean age of participants was 67.2 (± 15.3) years, and 33 of 48 (68.8%) were male. Good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 3) was reported by 31 of 37 participants (83.8%) at 6 months and 30 of 33 (90.9%) at 12 months. The median Euro-Quality of Life-5D index value was 0.73 (0.33-0.84) at 6 months and 0.76 (0.47-0.88) at 12 months. The median Euro-Quality of Life-Visual Analogue Scale score at 6 months was 70 (55-80) and 75 (50-87.5) at 12 months. Problems in all Euro-Quality of Life-5D-5 L dimension were reported frequently at both time points. Hospital readmission was reported by 23 of 37 patients (62.2%) at 6 months and 16 of 33 (48.5%) at 12 months. Less than half of previously working participants had returned to work by 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of in-hospital cardiac arrest survivors had a good functional outcome and health-related quality of life at 6 months, and this was largely unchanged at 12 months. Despite this, many reported problems with mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression. Return to work rates was low, and hospital readmissions were common.

Functional outcomes following an in-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Whilst much is known about the survival outcomes of patients that suffer an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in Australia very little is known about the functional outcomes of survivors. This study aimed to describe the functional outcomes of a cohort of patients that suffered an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and survived to hospital discharge in a regional Australian hospital. METHODS: This is a single-centre retrospective observational cohort study conducted in a regional Australian hospital. All adult patients that had an IHCA in the study hospital between 1 Jan 2017 and 31 Dec 2019 and survived to hospital discharge were included in the study. Functional outcomes were reported using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a six-point scale for which increasing scores represent increasing disability. Scores were assigned through a retrospective review of medical notes. RESULTS: Overall, 102 adult patients had an IHCA during the study period, of whom 50 survived to hospital discharge. The median age of survivors was 68 years, and a third had a shockable initial arrest rhythm. Of survivors, 47 were able to be assigned both mRS scores. At discharge, 81% of patients achieved a favourable functional outcome (mRS 0-3 or equivalent function at discharge equal to admission). CONCLUSIONS: Most survivors to hospital discharge following an IHCA have a favourable functional outcome and are discharged home. Although these results are promising, larger studies across multiple hospitals are required to further inform what is known about functional outcomes in Australian IHCA survivors.