title: Cohort study on the factors associated with survival post-cardiac arrest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac arrest is a common occurrence, and even with efficient emergency treatment, it is associated with a poor prognosis. Identification of predictors of survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation may provide important information for the healthcare team and family. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the survival of patients treated for cardiac arrest, after a one-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study conducted in the emergency department of a Brazilian university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The inclusion criterion was that the patients presented cardiac arrest that was treated in the emergency department (n = 285). Data were collected using the In-hospital Utstein Style template. Cox regression was used to determine which variables were associated with the survival rate (with 95% significance level).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one year, the survival rate was low. Among the patients treated, 39.6% experienced a return of spontaneous circulation; 18.6% survived for 24 hours and of these, 5.6% were discharged and 4.5% were alive after one year of follow-up. Patients with pulseless electrical activity were half as likely to survive as patients with ventricular fibrillation. For patients with asystole, the survival rate was 3.5 times lower than that of patients with pulseless electrical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial cardiac rhythm was the best predictor of patient survival. Compared with ventricular fibrillation, pulseless electrical activity was associated with shorter survival times. In turn, compared with pulseless electrical activity, asystole was associated with an even lower survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cássia Regina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Vancini-Campanharo
authors.affiliation: Sports and Physical Education Center, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Luiz
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vancini
authors.affiliation: Human Physiology and Exercise Sector, School of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio Andre Barbosa de
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília dos Santos
authors.initials: Mdos S
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aécio Flávio Teixeira de
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Álvaro Nagib
authors.initials: ÁN
authors.lastname: Atallah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000401:mortality; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult