Self-reported limitations in physical function are common 6 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Title: Self-reported limitations in physical function are common 6 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors generally report good health-related quality of life, but physical aspects of health seem more affected than other domains. Limitations in physical function after surviving OHCA have received little attention.

Aims: To describe physical function 6 months after OHCA and compare it with a group of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) controls, matched for country, age, sex and time of the cardiac event. A second aim was to explore variables potentially associated with self-reported limitations in physical function in OHCA survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional sub-study of the Targeted Temperature Management at 33 °C versus 36 °C (TTM) trial with a follow-up 6 months post-event. Physical function was the main outcome assessed with the self-reported Physical Functioning-10 items scale (PF-10). PF-10 is presented as T-scores (0-100), where 50 represents the norm mean. Scores <47 at a group level, or <45 at an individual level indicate limitations in physical function.

Results: 287 OHCA survivors and 119 STEMI controls participated. Self-reported physical function by PF-10 was significantly lower for OHCA survivors compared to STEMI controls (mean 46.0, SD 11.2 vs. 48.8, SD 9.0, p = 0.025). 38% of OHCA survivors compared to 26% of STEMI controls reported limitations in physical function at an individual level (p = 0.022). The most predictive variables for self-reported limitations in physical function in OHCA survivors were older age, female sex, cognitive impairment, and symptoms of anxiety and depression after 6 months.

Conclusion: Self-reported limitations in physical function are more common in OHCA survivors compared to STEMI controls.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01946932.