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Table 1 Characteristics of patients in the study

From: Relationship between time to target temperature and outcome in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

 

Time to target temperature

 
 

<120 minutes

120 to 220 minutes

>220 minutes

P value

Age, years

56 (45-67)

60 (51-71)

58 (49-66)

0.34

Male

40 (65%)

48 (67%)

59 (82%)

0.05

Height, cm

175 (165-180)

175 (165-180)

177 (171-180)

0.01

Weight, kg

78 (70-85)

80 (71-90)

85 (75-95)

0.002

Cardiac arrest

    

   Out-of-hospital

60 (97%)

64 (89%)

67 (93%)

0.21

   Cardiac etiology

40 (65%)

54 (75%)

57 (79%)

0.15

   Witnessed

53 (85%)

66 (92%)

63 (88%)

0.52

   Bystander BLSa

24 (39%)

20 (28%)

16 (22%)

0.10

   1st ECG, VF/VTb

34 (55%)

46 (64%)

52 (72%)

0.11

   Defibrillations

2 (0-3)

2 (1-5)

2 (1-5)

0.55

   Adrenaline, mg

3 (1-4)

2 (1-4)

3 (1-4)

0.58

   No-flowc, minutes

3 (1-10)

3 (0-7)

5 (1-8)

0.51

   Low-flowd, minutes

20 (14-27)

16 (10-22)

11 (9-23)

0.02

ROSC to admission, minutes

31 (25-42)

36 (24-54)

39 (26-51)

0.25

ROSC to cool, minutes

58 (29-72)

101 (58-130)

86 (43-130)

0.001

ROSC to awakeninge, days

5 (3-9)

4 (2-6)

4 (3-7)

0.59

ROSC to discharge, days

27 (17-51)

30 (20-46)

28 (21-45)

0.85

ROSC to death, days

7 (3-14)

6 (3-30)

18 (6-83)

0.05

Best CPCf

4 (1-4)

3 (1-4)

1 (1-4)

0.006

Favorable neurologic outcome

23 (37%)

34 (47%)

45 (63%)

0.01

Survivors

30 (48%)

36 (50%)

40 (56%)

0.68

  1. Temperature data between April 1995 and June 2008 were collected from 588 patients. The best cerebral performance category (CPC) achieved within 6 months after cardiac arrest was used; this was not available in 17 patients who died during anesthesia. Data are presented as median (interquartile range) and as number (percentage). The Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous data and chi-square test for categorical data were used to compare variables between the surviving and dead groups and between the favorable and unfavorable neurologic outcome (CPC 1-2 versus 3-4) groups. aPatients who have received basic life support from a bystander. bCardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation or nonperfusing ventricular tachycardia as the initial cardiac rhythm on electrocardiogram. cCardiac arrest with no blood flow. dInterval from the first attempt at resuscitation to restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). eAwakening was defined as response to external stimuli with purposeful movements. fA CPC of 1 indicates good cerebral performance (the patient is alert and has normal cerebral function). A CPC of 2 indicates moderate disability (the patient is alert and has sufficient cerebral function to live independently and work part-time). Such patients might have hemiplegia, seizures, ataxia, dysarthria, dysphasia, or permanent memory loss, or other mental changes. A CPC of 3 indicates severe cerebral disability (the patient is conscious but dependent on others for daily support because of impaired brain function). A CPC of 4 indicates a vegetative state.
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Critical Care

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