Background: Hospitalized patients with heart failure are at risk for cardiac arrest. The ability to predict who may survive such an event with or without neurological deficit would enhance the information on which patients and providers establish resuscitative preferences.
Methods and results: We identified 13 063 adult patients with acute heart failure who had cardiac arrest at 457 hospitals participating in the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2007. Neurological status was determined on admission and discharge by cerebral performance category with neurologically intact survival (NIS)=cerebral performance category 1 (no) or 2 (moderate dysfunction) and non-NIS=cerebral performance category 3 (severe dysfunction), 4 (coma), or 5 (brain death). Factors available prearrest (demographics, preexisting conditions, and interventions in-place) were assessed for association with NIS using multivariable logistic regression, initially without then with adjustment for arrest-related variables and hospital characteristics. NIS occurred in 2307 patients (17.7%) and was associated by adjusted odds ratio with 18 prearrest factors; 4 positively and 14 negatively. The association (odds ratio; 95% CI) was strongest for 4 specific variables: acute stroke (0.38; 0.25 to 0.58), history of malignancy (0.49; 0.39 to 0.63), vasopressor use (0.50; 0.43 to 0.59), and assisted or mechanical ventilation (0.53; 0.45 to 0.61).
Conclusions: A number of prearrest factors seem to be associated with NIS, the majority inversely. Consideration of these before cardiac arrest could enhance the resuscitative decision-making process for patients with acute heart failure.