Abstract
Background
The hemoglobin (Hb) level is an essential determinant of oxygen delivery. The restoration
of blood perfusion to vital organs and the capacity for oxygen delivery may be associated
with ischemia and reperfusion injuries during cardiac arrest and after cardiac arrest.
However, whether the Hb level is associated with neurologic outcome in post–cardiac
arrest patients remains unclear.
Methods
Emergency medical service information and clinical demographics were compiled for
witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with coma after the restoration
of spontaneous circulation. The study end point was defined as a favorable neurologic
outcome at 28 days. We evaluated the relationship between the Hb level at the time
of hospital arrival and the neurologic outcome using univariate analyses and a multivariate
logistic regression analysis.
Results
There were 137 witnessed cardiac arrest patients: 49 (35.7%) survived and 34 (24.8%)
achieved a favorable neurologic outcome. Univariate analyses showed that the favorable
outcome group was characterized as having a higher Hb level, a younger age, a higher
percentage of male patients, and ventricular fibrillation as the initial cardiac rhythm.
In a multivariate analysis adjusting for potential confounding factors, the Hb level
at the time of hospital arrival (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.58)
was an independent predictor of a favorable neurologic outcome.
Conclusion
A higher Hb level at the time of hospital arrival was associated with a favorable
short-term neurologic outcome among post–cardiac arrest patients with a presumed cardiac
etiology.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: June 06, 2011
Accepted:
March 31,
2011
Received in revised form:
March 30,
2011
Received:
February 26,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
