Longitudinal two years evaluation of neuropsychological outcome in children after out of hospital cardiac arrest

Aim: To investigate longitudinal functional and neuropsychological outcomes 3-6 and 24 months after paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Further, to explore the association between paediatric cerebral performance category (PCPC) and intelligence.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal single center study including children (0-17 years) with OHCA, admitted to the PICU of a tertiary care hospital between 2012 and 2017. Survivors were assessed during an outpatient multidisciplinary follow-up program 3-6 and 24 months post-OHCA. Functional and neuropsychological outcomes were assessed through interviews, neurological exam, and validated neuropsychological testing.

Results: The total eligible cohort consisted of 49 paediatric OHCA survivors. The most common cause of OHCA was arrhythmia (33%). Median age at time of OHCA was 48 months, 67% were males. At 3-6 and 24 months post-OHCA, respectively 74 and 73% had a good PCPC score, defined as 1-2. Compared with normative data, OHCA children obtained worse sustained attention and processing speed scores 3-6 (n = 26) and 24 (n = 27) months post-OHCA. At 24 months, they also obtained worse intelligence, selective attention and cognitive flexibility scores. In children tested at both time-points (n = 19), no significant changes in neuropsychological outcomes were found over time. Intelligence scores did not correlate with PCPC.

Conclusion: Although paediatric OHCA survivors had a good PCPC score 3-6 and 24 months post-OHCA, they obtained worse scores on important neuropsychological domains such as intelligence and executive functioning (attention and cognitive flexibility). Follow-up should continue over a longer life span in order to fully understand the long-term impact of OHCA in childhood.