Long-term outcome of elderly out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors as compared with their younger counterparts and the general population

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, prehospital and in-hospital treatment for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has improved considerably. There are sparse data on the long-term outcome, especially in elderly patients. We studied whether elderly patients benefit to the same extent compared with younger patients and at long-term follow up as compared with the general population. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2010, data from all patients presented to our hospital after OHCA were recorded. Elderly patients (⩾75 years) were compared with younger patients. Neurological outcome was classified as cerebral performance category (CPC) at hospital discharge and long-term survival was compared with younger patients and predicted survival rates of the general population. RESULTS: Of the 810 patients admitted after OHCA, a total of 551 patients (68%) achieved return of spontaneous circulation, including 125 (23%) elderly patients with a mean age of 81 ± 5 years. In-hospital survival was lower in elderly patients compared with younger patients with rates of 33% versus 57% (p < 0.001). A CPC of 1 was present in 73% of the elderly patients versus 86% of the younger patients (p = 0.031). In 7.3% of the elderly patients, a CPC >2 was observed versus 2.5% of their younger counterparts (p = 0.103). Elderly patients had a median survival of 6.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–7.9] years compared with 7.7 (95% CI 7.5–7.9) years of the general population (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate after OHCA in elderly patients is approximately half that of younger patients. Elderly patients who survive to discharge frequently have favorable neurological outcomes and a long-term survival that approximates that of the general population.