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- Title
Risk Factors in Patients with an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.
- Authors
Hamilton, A. J.; Moore, M. J.; Cairns, K.; Adgey, A. A. J.; Kee, F.
- Abstract
Objective: To determine the risk factors leading to death from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). Methods: The Emergency Medical Service patient report forms from North and West Belfast were examined from 8/6/2005 to 28/3/2006 for any OHCA death as per Utstein criteria. The General Practitioner (GP) records and the post mortem result were obtained. Results: There were 131 cases of OHCA; 76 were male (58%) mean age 68 years. At the time of death 51 (39%) lived alone and 112 (85%) had OHCA at home. A history of smoking occurred in 72 (55%), hypertension in 63 (48%), hypercholesterolaemia in 42 (32%), and diabetes mellitus in 24 (18%). The median time from the last GP attendance to death was 103 days (interquartile range 21-296 days). In only 6 (5%) cases was chest pain the reason for this attendance. A history of ischaemic heart disease was present in 48 (37%) and 28 (21%) had had a previous coronary angiogram. The use of Aspirin occurred in 56 (43%), B-blockers in 46 (35%), Statins in 54 (41%) and ACE inhibitors in 61 (47%) cases. At post mortem there were 27/42 (63%) with = moderate coronary atheroma in 3 coronary arteries and left ventricular hypertrophy in 26/42 (62%) cases. Conclusion: OHCA remains difficult to predict with few patients presenting with prior chest pain. The high incidence of OHCA in individuals living alone at home will constrain improvements in survival.
- Subjects
HEALTH risk assessment; HEART disease risk factors; CARDIAC arrest; DEATH rate; HYPERTENSION; HYPERCHOLESTEREMIA
- Publication
Ulster Medical Journal, 2008, Vol 77, Issue 2, p139
- ISSN
0041-6193
- Publication type
Article