Prognosis

Few patients are discharged alive ^{a  b}  

Survival is worse in

• out-of-hospital arrests ^b  
• asystole or pulseless electrical activity ^{a  b}  
• elderly patients ^b  

• previous disease: ^b  
  • stroke ^a  
  • renal failure ^{a  b}
  • cancer (particularly if metastatic) ^b  
  • diabetes ^b  
• current illness: 
  • congestive heart failure ^{a  b}  
  • sepsis ^b  
  • pneumonia ^b  
• old age ^a  or a poor functional status ^b  
• fine ventricular fibrillation on admission ECG ^b  
• prolonged arrest or resuscitation attempt ^b   
• coma following the arrest ^c  

• a cardiac cause: ^b  
  • ventricular dysrhythmias on admission ^a  

  • angina before admission ^a  

  • myocardial infarction ^b  

Recovery is good in patients who survive to be discharged, but further cardiac arrests are common. ^c  

The risk of cardiac arrest is increased with

• a prolonged QTc interval ^b