title: Functional outcomes and quality of life of young adults who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluating the quality of life of young adult survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is important as they are likely to have a longer life expectancy than older patients. The aim of this study was to assess their functional and quality of life outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry records were used to identify survivors of OHCA that occurred between 2003 and 2008 in the 18-39 year-old age group. Survivors were administered a telephone questionnaire using Short Form (SF-12), EQ-5D and Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended. Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) ascertained at hospital discharge from the medical record was recorded for the uncontactable survivors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 106 young adult survivors, five died in the intervening years and 45 were not contactable or refused. CPC scores were obtained for 37 (74%) of those who did not take part in telephone follow-up, and 7 (19%) of these had a CPC ≥ 3 indicating severe cerebral disability. The median follow-up time was 5 years (range 2.7- 8.6 years) for the 56 (53%) patients included. Of these, 84% were living at home independently, 68% had returned to work, and only 11% reported marked or severe disability. The majority of patients had no problems with mobility (75%), personal care (75%), usual activities (66%) or pain/discomfort (71%). However, 61% of respondents reported either moderate (48%) or severe (13%) anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of survivors have good functional and quality of life outcomes. Telephone follow-up is feasible in the young adult survivors of cardiac arrest; loss to follow-up is common.
authors: Research and Strategy, Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. conordeasy@hotmail.com
authors: Conor
authors: C
authors: Deasy
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Bray
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Smith
authors: Linton
authors: L
authors: Harriss
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Bernard
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult