One-year follow-up of neurological status of patients after cardiac arrest seen at the emergency room of a teaching hospital

Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2015 Apr-Jun;13(2):183-8. doi: 10.1590/S1679-45082015AO3286.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To describe neurological status and associated factors of survivors after cardiac arrest, upon discharge, and at 6 and 12 month follow-up.

Methods: A cohort, prospective, descriptive study conducted in an emergency room. Patients who suffered cardiac arrest and survived were included. A one-year consecutive sample, comprising 285 patients and survivors (n=16) followed up for one year after discharge. Neurological status was assessed by the Cerebral Performance Category before the cardiac arrest, upon discharge, and at 6 and 12 months after discharge. The following factors were investigated: comorbidities, presence of consciousness upon admission, previous cardiac arrest, witnessed cardiac arrest, location, cause and initial rhythm of cardiac arrest, number of cardiac arrests, interval between collapse and start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and between collapse and end of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Results: Of the patients treated, 4.5% (n=13) survived after 6 and 12 months follow-up. Upon discharge, 50% of patients remained with previous Cerebral Performance Category of the cardiac arrest and 50% had worsening of Cerebral Performance Category. After 6 months, 53.8% remained in the same Cerebral Performance Category and 46.2% improved as compared to discharge. After 12 months, all patients remained in the same Cerebral Performance Category of the previous 6 months. There was no statistically significant association between neurological outcome during follow-up and the variables assessed.

Conclusion: There was neurological worsening at discharge but improvement or stabilization in the course of a year. There was no association between Cerebral Performance Category and the variables assessed.

Objetivo:: Identificar a condição neurológica e os fatores associados de sobreviventes pós-parada cardiorrespiratória na alta hospitalar, após 6 e 12 meses de seguimento.

Métodos:: Estudo de coorte, prospectivo e descritivo, realizado em um pronto-socorro. Foram incluídos pacientes em parada cardiorrespiratória que sobreviveram à alta. A amostra foi consecutiva por um ano, sendo composta por 285 pacientes, e os sobreviventes (n=16) foram acompanhados por um ano após alta. O estado neurológico foi avaliado pela Categoria de Performance Cerebral antes da parada, na alta, 6 e 12 meses após alta. Foram investigados os seguintes fatores: comorbidades, presença de consciência na admissão, parada cardiorrespiratória prévia, parada cardiorrespiratória testemunhada, local, causa e ritmo inicial da parada, número de paradas, intervalo entre colapso e início da ressuscitação cardiopulmonar, e entre colapso e término da ressuscitação, e duração da ressuscitação.

Resultados:: Dos pacientes atendidos, 4,5% (n=13) sobreviveram após 6 e 12 meses de seguimento. Na alta, 50% dos pacientes permaneceram com Categoria de Performance Cerebral prévia à parada, e 50% tiveram piora da mesma. Após 6 meses, 53,8% permaneceram com mesma Categoria de Performance Cerebral, e 46,2% tiveram melhora em relação à alta. Após 12 meses, a totalidade dos pacientes permaneceu com mesma Categoria de Performance Cerebral em relação aos 6 meses anteriores. Não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre evolução neurológica durante o seguimento e variáveis de interesse.

Conclusão:: Observou-se piora neurológica na alta, mas houve melhora ou estabilização no decorrer de 1 ano. Não foi encontrada associação entre Categoria de Performance Cerebral e variáveis de interesse.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Diseases / etiology*
  • Brain Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / statistics & numerical data
  • Cohort Studies
  • Consciousness / classification
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glasgow Coma Scale / statistics & numerical data
  • Heart Arrest / complications*
  • Heart Arrest / mortality
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Patient Discharge
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survivors*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult