Cited 24 times since 2015 (2.4 per year) source: EuropePMC Netherlands heart journal : monthly journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation, Volume 23, Issue 1, 1 1 2015, Pages 20-25 High survival rate of 43% in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in an optimised chain of survival. Boyce LW, Vliet Vlieland TP, Bosch J, Wolterbeek R, Volker G, van Exel HJ, Heringhaus C, Schalij MJ, Goossens PH
Aims
Survival to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) varies widely. This study describes short-term survival after OHCA in a region with an extensive care path and a follow-up of 1 year.
Methods
Consecutive patients ≥16 years admitted to the emergency department between April 2011 and December 2012 were included. In July 2014 a follow-up took place. Socio-demographic data, characteristics of the OHCA and interventions were described and associations with survival were determined.
Results
Two hundred forty-two patients were included (73 % male, median age 65 years). In 76 % the cardiac arrest was of cardiac origin and 52 % had a shockable rhythm. In 74 % the cardiac arrest was witnessed, 76 % received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in 39 % an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was used. Of the 168 hospitalised patients, 144 underwent therapeutic procedures. A total of 105 patients survived until hospital discharge. Younger age, cardiac arrest in public area, witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac origin with a shockable rhythm, the use of an AED, shorter time until return of spontaneous circulation, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥13 during transport and longer length of hospital stay were associated with survival. Of the 105 survivors 72 survived for at least 1 year after cardiac arrest and 6 patients died.
Conclusion
A survival rate of 43 % after OHCA is achievable. Witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac cause of arrest, initial cardiac rhythm and GCS ≥13 were associated with higher survival.
