Background: The aim of this paper was to present the demographics and survival- and brain-related outcomes of adult non-traumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in central Taiwan. Methods: From December 2007 to December 2010, 1,072 non-traumatic OHCA patients
>18 years were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the demographics, in-hospital care and post-resuscitation
... [Show full abstract] features to distinguish between those that did and did not lead to survival. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the most
powerful factors affecting survival. Results: Only 3% (n = 32) of patients survived to discharge with good brain function. Cardiovascular disease (26.8%) was the third most common cause of non-traumatic OHCA. Place of arrest, witness to arrest, mode of transportation, pre-hospital
resuscitation, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, etiologies, initial cardiac rhythm, and duration of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were the key factors associated with survival (all P < 0.05). Finally, regression analysis showed that an initial cardiac
rhythm (non-asystole rhythm) was the most influential factor. Once a sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved (during the post-resuscitation period), both the sinus rhythm and normal heart rate were associated with survival (both p < 0.05). Conclusions:
Patients had the highest chance of survival when their initial cardiac rhythm was a non-asystole rhythm. During the post-resuscitation period, sinus rhythm and normal heart rate were associated with survival.