Long- and short-term mortality rates in patients who primarily survive cardiac arrest compared with a normal...

This is a follow-up study of 180 survivors after cardiac arrest outside intensive care and coronary care units. The follow-up extended over 0.5 to 8.5 years (averaged 4.3 years) after the primary cardiac arrest. Of the patients, 72 (40%) were discharged from hospital, 13 with anoxic brain damage. Thirty-ourred in 43% after 2 years, and in 50% after 3 years. After that time, the mortality was similar to that of a comparable normal population. At the end of the study, 34 patients were still alive, including eight with neurological sequelae. Their present cardiac function was satisfactory in the majority (59%) of the patients falling into group I or II of the American Heart Association classification. Their social situation, however, left much to be desired, as only 50% had fully or partly regained their previous level of activity.