title: Cognitive function and health-related quality of life four years after cardiac arrest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuropsychological testing has uncovered cognitive impairment in cardiac arrest survivors with good neurologic outcome according to the cerebral performance categories. We investigated cognitive function and health-related quality of life four years after cardiac arrest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty cardiac arrest survivors over the age of 18 in cerebral performance category 1 or 2 on hospital discharge completed the EQ-5D-5L and HADS questionnaires prior to cognitive testing using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. The results were compared with population norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine per cent of patients were cognitively impaired. The pattern of cognitive impairment reflects dysfunction in the medial temporal lobe, with impaired short-time memory and executive function slightly but distinctly affected. There was a significant reduction in quality of life on the EQ-VAS, but not on the EQ index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive impairment four years after cardiac arrest affected more than one quarter of the patients. Short-term memory was predominantly affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: eirik.alnes.buanes@helse-bergen.no.
authors.forename: Eirik Alnes
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Buanes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gramstad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Karoline Kjellsdotter
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Søvig
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Karl Ove
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Hufthammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flaatten
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Diseases, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jørund
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langørgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon-Kenneth
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Heltne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: CANTAB; Cardiac arrest; Cognition disorders; Neuropsychological tests; Quality of life; Treatment outcome