Cardiac Arrest Survivorship Research Hub

AIM: To evaluate how long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differs by age among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: In a nationwide, survey-based study, the HRQoL of adult survivors of OHCA in Denmark (2001-2019) was assessed using the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D), the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: A total of 2,552 out of 4,545 survivors (56.1 %) completed the survey. Median follow-up was 5.5 years (IQR 2.9-8.9 years). Median age at follow-up was 67 years (IQR 58-74). Across EQ-5D domains, age-related differences were observed. Mobility problems increased from 17% among respondents <35 years to 56% among those ≥75 years (p for trend <0.01). Self-care problems increased from 9% to 23% (p for trend <0.01), and limitations in usual activities reached 55% in the oldest group (p for trend <0.01). Pain/discomfort did not vary with age (p for trend=0.25). Anxiety/depression problems were more common in younger respondents and decreased with age (p for trend <0.01). SF-12 physical scores ranged from 47.4 (SD 10.2) in respondents <35 years to 37.7 (SD 12.0) in those ≥75 years, whereas mental component scores were stable (mean 52.9 [SD 8.3]). HADS anxiety scores were 5.4 (SD 4.3) in the youngest and 3.3 (SD 3.2) in the oldest group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: HRQoL after OHCA differed across age groups. Older survivors reported more physical limitations, whereas younger survivors reported more anxiety. These findings support age-tailored and domain-specific follow-up after cardiac arrest.

AIM: Addressing sparse nationwide data, this study evaluated the 12-month cumulative incidence and clinical predictors of new-onset post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and its specific domains among in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survivors. METHODS: This nationwide population-based cohort study utilized the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2013-2023). New-onset PICS was identified through International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) coded diagnoses within administrative claims data, representing healthcare utilization-based incidence rather than true symptomatic prevalence. RESULTS: Within the final analytic cohort of 43,331 hospital survivors, the 12-month cumulative incidence of new-onset PICS was 6.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5-6.9%). These findings reflect healthcare utilization-based incidence, capturing only those impairments that led to formal medical encounters and ICD-10 coding. In a sensitivity analysis of stable one-year survivors (n = 11,862), the incidence significantly rose to 15.9% (95% CI, 15.3-16.6%). Physical impairment was the dominant domain (15.0%), while cognitive (0.5%) and psychiatric (0.8%) domains showed lower rates, suggesting a potential "masking effect" or "floor effect" due to severe neurological injury. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (odds ratio [OR] 1.44, P < 0.001), and increased length of hospitalization were robust predictors. Notably, the odds of PICS diagnosis significantly escalated from 2021 onwards, peaking in 2022 (OR 2.19) and 2023 (OR 2.12). CONCLUSIONS: New-onset PICS, driven by physical decline, affects one in six IHCA survivors surviving the first year. Acute care intensity and recent trends highlight the need for early screening and intensive rehabilitation for high-risk survivors.

No abstract provided.