Comparison of the factors affecting neurological outcome in out-of vs in-hospital cardiac arrest cases.

Objective: To determine the differences between the factors such as return of spontaneous circulation positivity, duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and cardiac rhythm at first arrival affecting neurological outcomes in cardiac-arrest cases. Methods: This study was conducted at the Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey, from January to December 2014, and comprised patients who had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Patients were divided into two groups; in-hospital cardiac arrest and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The groups were compared in terms of gender, age, initial rhythm, cardiopulmonary resuscitation durations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation results (exitus, return), return of spontaneous circulation rates observed after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and neurological outcome responses of the cases in which return of spontaneous circulation was observed. SPSS 22 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 321 cases, 88(27.41%) were in-hospital and 233(72.59%) were out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. Besides, 189(58.9%) of the patients were men and 132(41.1%) were women with an overall mean age of 67.21±15.25 years (range: 18-98 years). Moreover, 16(18.2%) in-hospital cases and 47(20.2%) out-of-hospital cases had shockable rhythms at the time of arrival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied to 74(23%) patients for less than 20 minutes and to 247(76.9%) for more than 20 minutes. Return of spontaneous circulation positivity was recorded in 134(41.7%) patients, of whom 62(70.5%) were in-hospital and 72(30.9%) were out-of-hospital cases. Moreover, 19(5.9%) patients were discharged with good neurological outcome. In cases where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied for less than 20 minutes, return of spontaneous circulation positivity was present in 43(100%) in-hospital and 31(100%) out-of-hospital cases. Return of spontaneous circulation positivity and good neurological outcome rate of the patients having shockable rhythms was 48(76.2%) and 8(12.7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Return of spontaneous circulation positivity, favourable neurological outcome response and survival rates were significantly higher among in-hospital cardiac arrest cases.