Faculty Collaboration Database

Comparison of outcome of paramedic-witnessed cardiac arrest in patients younger and older than 70 years. Am J Cardiol 1990 Feb 15;65(7):453-7

Date

02/15/1990

Pubmed ID

2407085

DOI

10.1016/0002-9149(90)90809-f

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0025166363 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   55 Citations

Abstract

To obtain further information concerning differences in the mechanism of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between elderly and younger patients, 381 consecutive patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and whose arrest was witnessed by paramedics, were studied. In 91% of cases the arrest occurred at the time the patient's cardiac rhythm was monitored. Patients were divided into 2 age groups: elderly patients were greater than 70 years (187) and younger patients were less than 70 years (194). Elderly patients more commonly had a past history of heart failure (25 vs 10%, p less than 0.003) and were more commonly taking digoxin (40 vs 20%, p less than 0.005) and diuretics (35 vs 25%, p less than 0.004). Before the cardiac arrest, elderly patients were more likely to be complaining of dyspnea (53 vs 40%, p less than 0.009), whereas younger patients were more likely to complain of chest pain (27 vs 13%, p less than 0.001). Forty-two percent of younger patients demonstrated ventricular fibrillation as the initial out-of-hospital rhythm associated with the arrest, compared to only 22% of elderly patients (p less than 0.001). Besides patient age, initial cardiac rhythm varied according to the patient's complaint preceding the arrest. Sixty-eight percent of patients with chest pain demonstrated ventricular fibrillation, whereas only 21% of patients with dyspnea demonstrated ventricular fibrillation. Elderly patients could be as successfully resuscitated as younger patients; however, 24% of younger patients survived, compared to only 10% of elderly patients (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Author List

Tresch DD, Thakur RK, Hoffmann RG, Aufderheide TP, Brooks HL

Author

Tom P. Aufderheide MD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Allied Health Personnel
Female
Heart Arrest
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Resuscitation
Survival Analysis
Survival Rate
Ventricular Fibrillation