Age, pre-arrest neurological condition, and functional status as outcome predictors in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Secondary analysis of the Jerusalem Cohort Study data: Outcome predictors in out of hospital cardiac arrest

Abstract Purpose Investigate the relation between age, baseline neurological and functional status, and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods : Data analysis from the Jerusalem District Resuscitation Study. Patients >80 years and those 18–80 years with OHCA from 4/2005–12/2010 were compared. Primary outcome: survival at four time points; secondary outcomes: neurological and functional status at hospital discharge, and relationship between survival, age and pre-arrest activities of daily living (ADL) and Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scores (higher scores indicate worse function in both). Results : 3,211 patients (1,259 >80 years, 1,952 aged 18–80) with median follow-up 5.9 years (range 0.1-11.1 years) were included. Survival was better for younger patients at all four time points, including 7.8% versus 2.5% at hospital discharge, 4.6% versus 0.2% at late follow-up. Functional status at discharge was also better, 4.8±5.4 versus 9.0±4.7, p Conclusion : Patient independence before arrest may be a more crucial determinant of resuscitation outcome than older age alone. Discussion of end-of-life preferences is particularly important for older individuals with functional and cognitive decline.