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Risk factors for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Reykjavik Study

Gestur Thorgeirsson1, Gudmundur Thorgeirsson, Helgi Sigvaldason

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Landspítali University Hospital, Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. gesturth@landspitali.is

European Heart Journal
|March 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Previous myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors significantly increase out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) risk. Increased electrocardiogram (ECG) voltage is an additional risk factor for women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) poses a significant public health challenge.
  • Identifying modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies.
  • The Reykjavik Study provides a unique long-term, population-based dataset for examining OHCA determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the risk factors associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) within the Reykjavik Study cohort.
  • To identify specific determinants of OHCA in both men and women.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, population-based cohort study design.
  • Analysis of data from 1987 to 1996, including 8006 men and 9435 women.
  • Cox regression analysis to determine significant risk factors for OHCA.

Main Results:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) and its classical risk factors were significant determinants of OHCA.
  • In men, OHCA risk was associated with age, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and prior MI.
  • In women, risk factors included diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and increased ECG voltage; increased BMI showed an inverse relationship.

Conclusions:

  • Previous myocardial infarction (MI) and traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors significantly elevate the risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
  • Specific risk factor profiles were identified for men and women.
  • Increased voltage on electrocardiograms (ECGs) emerged as an additional risk factor for OHCA specifically in women.
Abstract

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