Logistic regression model to predict outcome after in-hospital cardiac arrest: validation, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a logistic regression model to identify predictors of death before hospital discharge after in-hospital cardiac arrest.

DESIGN

Retrospective derivation and validation cohorts over two 1 year periods. Data from all in-hospital cardiac arrests in 1986-87 were used to derive a logistic regression model in which the estimated probability of death before hospital discharge was a function of patient and arrest descriptors, major underlying diagnosis, initial cardiac rhythm, and time of year. This model was validated in a separate data set from 1989-90 in the same hospital. Calculated for each case was 95% confidence limits (C.L.) about the estimated probability of death. In addition, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of estimated probability of death and lower 95% C.L. of the estimated probability of death in the derivation and validation data sets were calculated.

SETTING

560-bed university teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

The derivation data set described 270 cardiac arrests in 197 inpatients. The validation data set described 158 cardiac arrests in 120 inpatients.

INTERVENTIONS

none.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Death before hospital discharge was the main outcome measure. Age, female gender, number of previous cardiac arrests, and electrical mechanical dissociation were significant variables associated with a higher probability of death. Underlying coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac arrest during the period July-September were significant variables associated with a lower probability of death. Optimal sensitivity and specificity in the validation set were achieved at a cut-off probability of 0.85.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance of this logistic regression model depends on the cut-off probability chosen to discriminate between predicted survival and predicted death and on whether the estimated probability or the lower 95% C.L. of the estimated probability is used. This model may inform the development of clinical practice guidelines for patients who are at risk of or who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest.