Predisposing Factors and Neurologic Outcomes of Patients with Elevated Serum Amylase and/or Lipase after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This study investigated the patient outcomes, incidence, and predisposing factors of elevated pancreatic enzyme levels after OHCA. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Elevation of pancreatic enzyme levels was defined as serum amylase or lipase levels that were at least three times the upper limit of normal. The factors associated with elevated pancreatic enzyme levels and their association with neurologic outcomes and mortality 28 days after OHCA were analyzed. Among the 355 patients, 166 (46.8%) patients developed elevated pancreatic enzyme levels. In the multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval), initial shockable rhythm (0.62, 0.39–0.98, p = 0.04), time from collapse to return of spontaneous circulation (1.02, 1.01–1.04, p < 0.001), and history of coronary artery disease (1.7, 1.01–2.87, p = 0.046) were associated with elevated pancreatic enzyme levels. After adjusting for confounding factors, elevated pancreatic enzyme levels were associated with neurologic outcomes (5.44, 3.35–8.83, p < 0.001) and mortality (3.74, 2.39–5.86, p < 0.001). Increased pancreatic enzyme levels are common in patients treated with TTM after OHCA and are associated with unfavorable neurologic outcomes and mortality at 28 days after OHCA.