title: Determinants of quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Véronique R M P
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Moulaert
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wachelder
authors.forename: Jeanine A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Verbunt
authors.forename: Derick T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Heugten
mesh_terms: 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