Factors associated with performing urgent coronary angiography in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

OBJECTIVES: Factors associated with performing urgent coronary angiography (UCA) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) were identified.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for resuscitated OHCA patients recommend UCA if there is ST-elevation on post-arrest electrocardiogram or high suspicion of acute myocardial infarction. Some have advocated for UCA in all OHCA regardless of suspected etiology. The reasons for variations in performing UCA are not well understood.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of subjects presenting with resuscitated OHCA to a single academic medical center from 12/15/2007 to 8/31/2014 was conducted. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing UCA, defined as angiography within 6 hr of presentation, were compared with those not undergoing UCA. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of UCA.

RESULTS: A total of 323 resuscitated OHCA patients (mean age, 64 years; women, 35%) were included in the analysis; 107 (33.1%) underwent coronary angiography during their hospitalization and 66 (20.4%) underwent UCA. Multivariable adjusted factors associated with UCA were ST-elevation [odds ratio (OR) 14.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.28-34.24, P < 0.001], initial shockable rhythm (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.52-8.97, P = 0.004), and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.43-7.95, P = 0.005). Higher age (OR 0.71 per decade, 95% CI 0.55-0.92, P = 0.01) and obvious non-cardiac cause of arrest (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.02-0.38, P = 0.001) were negatively associated with UCA.

CONCLUSIONS: In resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, ST-elevation, shockable rhythm, and history of CAD were associated with performing urgent coronary angiography; older patients and those with obvious non-cardiac causes of arrest were negatively associated.