Long-Term Neurological Outcome of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors and Associated Factors: Results of the DESAC Study, a French Multicentric Prospective Cohort.
Circulation. Population health and outcomes · 2026-04-09 · Observational study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of the DESAC study (Devenir des Survivants d'Arrets Cardiaques) was to describe the survival rate and neurological status of out-of-hospital (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest) survivors, and to assess the influence of prehospital and intrahospital factors. METHODS: Between July 2015 and October 2018, consecutive nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients aged over 18 years discharged alive from 33 intensive care units in Paris and the suburbs (France) were included. Their neurological status was assessed every 6 months using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale. Prognostic factors associated with a favorable neurological outcome at 24 months (CPC category of 1 or 2) were assessed by covariate-adjusted logistic regression. Trajectories of CPC level over time were derived using a linear mixed model in survivors with at least 3 repeated assessments. RESULTS: Out of 593 survivors, 525 were followed up for 24 months (mean age, 58.1±15.3 years, 79% males), and 449 of 525 (86%) had a favorable neurological outcome. Initial shockable rhythm (adjusted odds ratio, 3.33 [95% CI, 1.57-7.07]) and previous practice of sport (adjusted odds ratio, 3.13 [95% CI, 1.21-8.12]) were associated with favorable outcome, whereas factors with reduced odds ratio were older age (adjusted odds ratio per 10 years, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.41-0.69]) and prior percutaneous coronary intervention (adjusted odds ratio, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.17-0.85]). Therapeutic hypothermia or acute coronary interventions were not related to prognosis (P>0.05). Overall, among the 514 patients with at least 3 repeated assessments, 5 distinct CPC trajectories (2 reflecting early death were combined) were derived: 64% remained in CPC1, 13.4% in CPC2, 11% improved from CPC2 to CPC1, and 11.6% died either early or lately (>3 months) during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This multicentric prospective study indicates that 86% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors had a favorable neurological outcome at 24 months. Pre-event and intraevent factors (including previous practice of sport and shockable rhythm), but not in-hospital management (therapeutic hypothermia or acute coronary interventions), were associated with a favorable outcome. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02494414.