Abstract 287: Psychosocial and Functional Status Are Associated With Readiness for Hospital Discharge Among Cardiac Arrest Survivors

Abstract

Introduction: Long-term cardiac arrest (CA) survivors have recounted feeling unprepared to confront the psychosocial, functional, and cognitive sequelae of CA, but this has not been assessed quantitatively. Hypothesis: Psychosocial, functional, and cognitive status are associated with readiness for discharge post-CA. Methods: We prospectively recruited CA survivors treated by the University of Pittsburgh Post-Cardiac Arrest Service (4/21-9/22) who completed study measures within 72 hours prior to hospital discharge. We used linear regression to examine unadjusted associations between potential covariates (sex, income, arrest location, Charlson Comorbidity Index, time to return of spontaneous circulation, initial rhythm), post-CA sequelae (emotional distress screen via PROMIS Depression and Anxiety Short Forms 4A or PTSD Checklist-5, functional status via modified Rankin Scale, cognitive status via Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, and social support via ENRICHD Social Support Inventory) and our dependent variable (readiness for discharge assessed via Patient Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale - Short Form). Covariates significant at p < 0.10 were included in a multivariable regression. Results: We included 110 grossly cognitively intact CA survivors (mean age 59 years, 64% male, 88% non-Hispanic White, 48% low income, 36.4% emotionally distressed, 21.9% functionally dependent, 24.5% cognitively impaired). Emotional distress, functional dependence, and lower social support were associated with lower readiness for discharge (β’s [absolute value]: 0.23-0.31, p < 0.01; R 2 = 0.34) after adjusting for CA location and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Cognitive status, demographic covariates, and other CA clinical characteristics were not associated with readiness for discharge. Conclusion(s): Psychosocial and functional status predict readiness for discharge in this sample of grossly cognitively intact CA survivors. Further research should focus on developing interventions targeted towards these domains prior to hospital discharge.