Table 2

Clinical and demographic characteristics for the 737 cardiac arrest patients, according to survival (discharge from hospital)


Death (in the field and in hospital; n = 567)
Survivors (discharge from hospital; n = 170)
P value

Male sex (n [%])a
384 (67.7%)
111 (65.3%)
0.224
Age (years; mean ± SD)b
61.2 ± 14.7
60.2 ± 13.3
0.861
Initial shockable (VF/VT) rhythm (n [%])a
209 (36.9%)
95(55.8%)
0.206
Witnessed arrests (n [%])a
314 (55.4%)
160 (94.1%)
<0.001
Bystander CPR (n [%])a
86 (15.2%)
88 (51.8%)
<0.001
Initial PetCO2 (kPa [mmHg]; mean ± SD)b
2.4 ± 1.9 (17.6.0 ± 14.7)
3.1 ± 1.4 (23.8 ± 10.7)
<0.001
Final PetCO2 (kPa [mmHg]; mean ± SD)b
1.9 ± 1.4 (15.0 ± 10.0)
3.9 ± 1.1 (29.3 ± 8.4)
<0.001
Response time (minutes; mean ± SD)b
12.7 ± 4.4
6.3 ± 3.2
<0.001

aFisher test. bWilcoxon rank sum test. CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; PetCO2, partial end-tidal pressure of carbin dioxide; SD, standard deviation; VF, ventricular fibrillation; VT, ventricular tachycardia.

Kolar et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R115   doi:10.1186/cc7009