Estimation of short-term and medium-term survival from sudden cardiac death based on the initial rhythm

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate short- and medium-term survival in patients with sudden cardiac death (SCD) after resuscitation. We continued a retrospective study at the University of Pécs from April 2018 to December 2019. 192 patients with SCD were selected. Exclusion criteria were incomplete documentation and unstable rhythm, after which we continued the study with 181 patients. Our data were obtained from documents recorded by the Emergency Department. The study population was divided into two groups, with proven shockable (I) and non-shockable (II) initial rhythm, and their data were compared at hospital discharge, at 1 month, and at 3 months. The main endpoint was the mortality between the two groups. Our results already showed that hospital survival was significantly higher in the shockable rhythm group than in the non-shockable group (62% vs. 38%, P=0.002). We also obtained similar results for 1-month survival (54% vs. 16%, P=0.004). When risk factors were examined, there was a significant difference in the survival of diabetic (P=0.001) and hypertensive patients (P=0.001). Patients with shockable rhythm have significantly better survival rates.

Keywords

• Sudden cardiac death
• ventricular arrhythmias
• survival