The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in sudden cardiac arrest survivors: A 5-year nationwide inpatient analysis.

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a major public health challenge in the United States (US). At present, the existence of limited literature on psychological sequelae post-cardiac arrest is a challenge in providing optimal care to survivors.

AIM

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of various psychiatric comorbidities in survivors of SCA.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset was queried to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders with gender-based differences and inpatient mortality among adult patients hospitalized with a previous history of SCA using ICD-9 CM codes from 2010 to 2014.

RESULTS

Mood disorder (16.4%) was the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity (including depression; 12.6%) followed by anxiety (10%). Cardiac arrest survivors with psychiatric disorder (CAPD) were often younger (mean 60 ± 16 vs. 64 ± 16 years; p < 0.001), female (53.7% vs. 38.0%; p < 0.001), white patients (75.9% vs. 68.7%; p < 0.001) and the majority were admitted non-electively (85.1% vs. 82.8%, p < 0.001) as compared to cardiac arrest survivors without psychiatric disorder (CANPD). Among the CAPD group, females had a significantly higher frequency of mood disorders (21.8% vs. 12.6%), depression (16.8% vs. 9.5%) and anxiety (14.2% vs. 8.0%) compared to males. The CAPD cohort had a lower all-cause in-hospital mortality (5.7% vs. 9.8%; p < 0.001) as compared to the CANPD group.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid psychiatric disorders are prevalent in SCA survivors, especially younger, white, female patients. However, CAPD did not have higher all-cause mortality as compared to CANPD. It is imperative to identify, assess, treat, and monitor high-risk SCA patients for associated psychiatric comorbidities.