title: Health status and psychological distress among in-hospital cardiac arrest survivors in relation to gender.
abstract: To describe health status and psychological distress among in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survivors in relation to gender.
  
  
  
  This national register study consists of data from follow-up registration of IHCA survivors 3-6 months post cardiac arrest (CA) in Sweden. A questionnaire was sent to the survivors, including measurements of health status (EQ-5D-5L) and psychological distress (HADS).
  
  
  
  Between 2013 and 2015, 594 IHCA survivors were included in the study. The median values for EQ-5D-5L index and EQ VAS among survivors were 0.78 (q1-q3=0.67-0.86) and 70 (q1-q3=50-80) respectively. The values were significantly lower (p<0.001) in women compared to men. In addition, women reported more problems than men in all dimensions of EQ-5D-5L, except self-care. A majority of the respondents reported no problems with anxiety (85.4%) and/or symptoms of depression (87.0%). Women reported significantly more problems with anxiety (p<0.001) and symptoms of depression (p<0.001) compared to men. Gender was significantly associated with poorer health status and more psychological distress. No interaction effects for gender and age were found.
  
  
  
  Although the majority of survivors reported acceptable health status and no psychological distress, a substantial proportion reported severe problems. Women reported worse health status and more psychological distress compared to men. Therefore, a higher proportion of women may be in need of support. Health care professionals should make efforts to identify health problems among survivors and offer individualised support when needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Kalmar County Hospital, SE-39185 Kalmar, Sweden; Kalmar Maritime Academy, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: johani@ltkalmar.se.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Israelsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute and Prehospital Care and Medical Technology and PreHospen - Centre for Prehospital Research, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden; Division of Emergency Medical Services, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute and Prehospital Care and Medical Technology and PreHospen - Centre for Prehospital Research, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herlitz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åsa B
authors.initials: ÅB
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cronberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Djärv
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marja-Leena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kristofferzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ing-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lilja
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katharina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sunnerhagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ågren
authors.affiliation: Department of Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Åkerman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Research, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Årestedt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Gender; Health status; Heart arrest; Hospitals