Abstract 13: Cardiac Arrest-Induced Posttraumatic Stress Increases 1-Year Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality

Abstract

Importance: Many cardiac arrest (CA) survivors develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (i.e., CA-induced PTSD). The association of CA-induced PTSD with secondary mortality and cardiovascular risk is unknown. Methods: A prospective, observational, cohort study of adults with return of spontaneous circulation after in-hospital or out-of-hospital CA at a tertiary-care center between September 2015 and September 2017. A consecutive sample of survivors with sufficient mental status to self-report CA-induced PTSD symptoms at hospital discharge were included. The combined primary end point was all-cause mortality (ACM) or a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE)—hospitalization for nonfatal MI, unstable angina, congestive heart failure (CHF), urgent/emergency coronary revascularization procedures, or urgent implantable defibrillators/pacemaker (ICDs/PPM) placements within 12 months of discharge. In-person assessments for CA-induced PTSD were performed within 24 hours of hospital discharge. PTSD symptomatology was assessed via the PTSD Checklist - Specific (PCL-S) scale; a suggested diagnostic cut-off of 36 for specialized medical settings was adopted. Outcomes for patients meeting (vs. not meeting) this cutoff were compared using Cox regression with adjustment for demographic and clinical covariates. Results: Of 114 included patients, 36 (31.6%) screened positive for CA-induced PTSD at discharge (median 21 days post-CA; interquartile range 11-36). During the follow-up period (median = 12.4 months, range 10.2-13.5), 10 (8.8%) died and 29 (25.4%) experienced a recurrent MACE: rehospitalizations due to MI (n=4, 13.8%), UA (n=8, 27.6%), CHF exacerbations (n=4, 13.8%), emergency revascularizations (n=5, 17.2%), and ICDs/PPM placements (n=8, 27.6%). CA-induced PTSD was associated with ACM/MACE in univariate (Hazard Ratio [HR] =3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-6.0) and in models adjusted for age, sex, charlson comorbidity index and nonshockable initial rhythms (HR=3.2; CI, 1.7-6.1). Conclusions: PTSD is common after CA, and survivors with CA-induced PTSD had significantly higher risk of death and cardiovascular events. Further inquiry into underlying mechanisms is warranted.