Determinants of quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To study factors related to quality of life after a hypoxic period due to cardiac arrest.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Eighty-eight survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, admitted to a Dutch academic hospital between 2001 and 2006.


METHODS
Patients received a set of questionnaires at home. The main outcome measures were physical and mental quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey; SF-36). Potential determinants were cognitive complaints, emotional problems depression/anxiety), post-traumatic stress, fatigue, daily functioning and participation in society. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with physical and mental quality of life as dependent variables.


RESULTS
Sixty-three (72%) patients responded. Mean time since cardiac arrest was 36 months (standard deviation (SD) 19). Backward regression analyses showed that physical quality of life was significantly (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.531) related to cognitive complaints (beta = -0.378), instrumental daily life activities (beta = 0.262), post-traumatic stress (beta = -0.246) and fatigue (beta = -0.226). Mental quality of life was significantly (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.664) explained by anxiety/depression (beta = -0.609), fatigue (beta = -0.177) and cognitive complaints (beta = -0.175).


CONCLUSIONS
Quality of life is related to cognitive complaints, fatigue, anxiety/depression, post-traumatic stress and difficulties in daily activities in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Rehabilitation programmes for this group should specifically address these topics.
Moulaert
Véronique R M P
VR
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Wachelder
Esther M
EM
Verbunt
Jeanine A
JA
Wade
Derick T
DT
van Heugten
Caroline M
CM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires