Characteristics and outcome amongst young adults suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation is attempted.
OBJECTIVE
Amongst patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, young adults represent a minority. However, these victims suffer from the catastrophe when they are in a very active phase of life and have a long life expectancy. This survey aims to describe young adults in Sweden who suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is attempted in terms of characteristics and outcome.


METHODS
Prospective and descriptive design.


METHODS
Young adults (18-35 years) who suffered from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom CPR was attempted and who were included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry between 1990 and 2004.


METHODS
Survival to 1 month.


RESULTS
In all, 1105 young adults (3.1% of all the patients in the registry) were included, of which 29% were females, 51% were nonwitnessed and 15% had a cardiac aetiology. Only 17% were found in ventricular fibrillation, 53% received bystander CPR. The overall survival to 1 month was 6.3%. High survival was found amongst patients found in ventricular fibrillation (20.8%) and those with a cardiac aetiology (14.8%). Ventricular fibrillation at the arrival of the rescue team remained an independent predictor of an increased chance of survival (odds ratio: 7.43; 95% confidence interval: 3.44-16.65).


CONCLUSIONS
Amongst young adults suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and in whom CPR was attempted, a minority survived to 1 month. Subgroups with a higher survival could be defined (patients found in ventricular fibrillation and patients in whom there was a cardiac aetiology). However, only one independent predictor of an increased chance of survival could be demonstrated, i.e. ventricular fibrillation at the arrival of the rescue team.
Herlitz
J
J
Institution of Internal Medicine, Department of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. johan.herlitz@hjl.gu.se
Svensson
L
L
Silfverstolpe
J
J
Angquist
K-A
KA
Wisten
A
A
Engdahl
J
J
Holmberg
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000401:mortality*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*