Clinical characteristics, causes and predictors of outcomes in patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest: results from the SURVIVE-ARREST study

Introduction: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is acutely life-threatening and remains associated with high mortality and morbidity. Identifying predictors of mortality after IHCA would help to guide acute therapy.

Methods: We determined patient characteristics and independent predictors of 30-day in-hospital mortality, neurological outcome, and discharge/referral pathways in patients experiencing IHCA in a large tertiary care hospital between January 2014 and April 2017. Multivariable Cox regression model was fitted to assess predictors of outcomes.

Results: A total of 368 patients with IHCA were analysed (median age 73 years (interquartile range 65-78), 123 (33.4%) women). Most patients (45.9%) had an initial non-shockable rhythm and shockable rhythms were found in 20.9%; 23.6% of patients suffered from a recurrent episode of cardiac arrest. 172/368 patients died within 30 days (46.7%). Of 196/368 patients discharged alive after IHCA, the majority (72.9%, n = 143) had a good functional neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤ 3 points). In the multivariable analysis, return of spontaneous circulation without mechanical circulatory support (hazard ratio (HR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21-0.64), invasive coronary angiography and/or percutaneous intervention (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.92), and antibiotic therapy (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83-0.92) were associated with a lower risk of 30-day in hospital mortality.

Conclusion: In the present study, IHCA was survived in ~ 50% in a tertiary care hospital, although only a minority of patients presented with shockable rhythms. The majority of IHCA survivors (~ 70%) had a good neurological outcome. Recovery of spontaneous circulation and presence of treatable acute causes of the arrest are associated with better survival. Clinical Characteristics, Causes and Predictors of Outcomes in Patients with In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Results from the SURVIVE-ARREST Study.

Abbreviations: CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; IHCA, In-hospital cardiac arrest; MCS, mechanical circulatory support; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; ROSC, return of spontaneous circulation; SBP, systolic blood pressure.