The impact of psychological distress on long-term recovery perceptions in survivors of cardiac arrest

A shift towards targeted post-ICU treatment: Multidisciplinary care for cardiac arrest survivors

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivorship comprises a burgeoning area of critical care medicine, largely due to our improved understanding of and concern for patients' recovery trajectory, and efforts to mitigate the post-acute complications of critical illness. Expansion of care beyond hospitalization is necessary, yet evidence for post-ICU clinics remains limited and mixed, as both interventions and target populations studied to date are too heterogenous to meaningfully demonstrate efficacy. Here, we briefly present the existing evidence and limitations related to post-ICU clinics, identify cardiac arrest survivors as a unique ICU subpopulation warranting further investigation and treatment, and propose a clinical framework that addresses the multifaceted needs of this well-defined patient population.

Emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence predict readiness for hospital discharge in a prospective sample of cognitively intact cardiac arrest survivors

AIM

To inform screening, referral and treatment initiatives, we tested the hypothesis that emotional distress, social support, functional dependence, and cognitive impairment within 72 hours prior to discharge predict readiness for discharge in awake and alert cardiac arrest (CA) survivors.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective single-center cohort of CA survivors enrolled between 4/2021 and 9/2022. We quantified emotional distress using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 and PROMIS Emotional Distress - Anxiety and Depression Short Forms 4a; perceived social support using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; functional dependence using the modified Rankin Scale; and cognitive impairment using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Our primary outcome was readiness for discharge, measured using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale. We used multivariable linear regression to test the independent association of each survivorship factor and readiness for discharge.

RESULTS

We included 110 patients (64% male, 88% white, mean age 59 [standard deviation ± 13.1 years]). Emotional distress, functional dependence, and social support were independently associated with readiness for discharge (adjusted β's [absolute value]: 0.25-0.30, all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital systems should consider implementing routine in-hospital screening for emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence for CA survivors who are awake, alert and approaching hospital discharge, and prioritize brief in hospital treatment or post-discharge referrals.

Protective positive psychology factors and emotional distress after cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

There is a critical need to identify factors that can prevent emotional distress post-cardiac arrest (CA). CA survivors have previously described benefitting from utilizing positive psychology constructs (mindfulness, existential well-being, resilient coping, social support) to cope with distress. Here, we explored associations between positive psychology factors and emotional distress post-CA.

METHODS

We recruited CA survivors treated from 4/2021-9/2022 at a single academic medical center. We assessed positive psychology factors (mindfulness [Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised], existential well-being [Meaning in Life Questionnaire Presence of Meaning subscale], resilient coping [Brief Resilient Coping Scale], perceived social support [ENRICHD Social Support Inventory]) and emotional distress (posttraumatic stress [Posttraumatic Stress Checklist-5], anxiety and depression symptoms [PROMIS Emotional Distress - Anxiety and Depression Short Forms 4a]) just before discharge from the index hospitalization. We selected covariates for inclusion in our multivariable models based on an association with any emotional distress factor (p < 0.10). For our final, multivariable regression models, we individually tested the independent association of each positive psychology factor and emotional distress factor.

RESULTS

We included 110 survivors (mean age 59 years, 64% male, 88% non-Hispanic White, 48% low income); 36.4% of survivors scored above the cut-off for at least one measure of emotional distress. In separate adjusted models, each positive psychology factor was independently associated with emotional distress (β: -0.20 to -0.42, all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of mindfulness, existential well-being, resilient coping, and perceived social support were each associated with less emotional distress. Future intervention development studies should consider these factors as potential treatment targets.

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in cardiac arrest survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to identify the prevalence of anxiety and depression in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors.

METHODS

A systematic review and network meta-analysis was performed on observational studies in adult cardiac arrest survivors with psychiatric disorders from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. In the meta-analysis, we combined the prevalence quantitatively and analyzed the subgroup based on the classification indexes.

RESULTS

We identified 32 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Regarding anxiety,the pooled prevalence was 24% (95% CI, 17-31%) and 22% (95% CI, 13-26%) in short-term and long-term respectively. The subgroup analysis showed that the pooled incidence in in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) survivors was 14.0% (95%CI, 9.0-20.0%) and 28.0% (95%CI, 20.0-36.0%) for short-term anxiety.The incidence of anxiety measured by, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAM-A) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) was higher than other tools(P < 0.01). Regarding depression,the data analysis showed that the pooled incidence of short-term and long-term depression was 19% (95% CI, 13-26%) and 19% (95% CI, 16-25%), respectively. The subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of short-term and long-term depression was 8% (95% CI, 1-19%) and 30% (95% CI, 5-64%) for IHCA survivors, and was 18% (95% CI, 11-26%) and 17% (95% CI, 11-25%) for OHCA survivors. The incidence of depression measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS) and Symptom check list-90(SCL-90) was higher than other assessment tools(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis indicated a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in CA survivors, and those symptoms persisted 1 year or more after CA. Evaluation tool is an important factor affecting the measurement results.

The aftermath of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest for young exercisers - a qualitative study in Norway

BACKGROUND

When surviving a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), physical, cognitive, and emotional effects of surviving may be present for months or years. The survivors' family and colleagues are also highly affected by the incident. There is little knowledge about experiences of surviving SCA in individuals who prior to the incident were young and reported to exercise regularly. Consequently, the aim of this study was to explore the aftermath of surviving a SCA in young, regular exercisers.

METHODS

The study had a qualitative design, conducting in-depth individual interviews with SCA survivors < 50 years of age reporting to exercise ≥ 5 h/week and/or who suffered SCA during or less than 60 min after exercise. The data were analysed using systematic text condensation in-line with recommendations from Malterud.

RESULTS

18 of 31 eligible participants were included in the study. Through analysis we identified 'Establishing a new everyday life' as superordinate category, with subordinate categories a) being part of my surroundings, b) expecting normality but facing a new reality and c) lucky to be alive!

CONCLUSION

This study adds knowledge about young and regular exercisers' experiences after surviving a SCA. The obligations of everyday life in young survivors of SCA often imply a high work load and complex tasks, e.g. due to being in the beginning of their career or even still studying. Healthcare personnel, as well as the society, need to acknowledge that although lucky to be alive and apparently well-functioning, young survivors of SCA may have persistent challenges that cause frustration and reduced quality of life.

Psychological Distress After Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Its Impact on Recovery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the prevalence, correlates, and health consequences of poor mental health in the increasingly sizable population of survivors of Sudden cardiac arrest (CA) and to describe current intervention research in this area.

RECENT FINDINGS

After CA many patients report high psychological distress, including depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Emerging evidence suggests that distressed patients' attention may narrow such that anxious awareness of afferent cardiac signals e.g., changes in heart rate or blood pressure, becomes predominant and a cause for concerned, constant monitoring. This cardiac-specific anxiety followed by behavioral avoidance and physiological hyperreactivity may increase patients' already high risk of secondary cardiovascular disease and undermine their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Unlike other cardiovascular diseases, no clinical practice guidelines exist for assessing or treating psychological sequelae of CA. Future research should identify modifiable psychological targets to reduce secondary cardiovascular disease risk and improve HRQoL.

Mindfulness is inversely associated with psychological symptoms in long-term cardiac arrest survivors

Identifying correlates of psychological symptoms in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors is a major research priority. In this longitudinal survey study, we evaluated associations between mindfulness, baseline psychological symptoms, and 1-year psychological symptoms in long-term CA survivors. We collected demographic and CA characteristics at baseline. At both timepoints, we assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) through the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) and depression and anxiety symptoms through the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). At follow-up, we assessed mindfulness through the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R). We used adjusted linear regression to predict 1-year PCL-5 and PHQ-4 scores, with particular consideration of the CAMS-R as a cross-sectional correlate of outcome. We included 129 CA survivors (mean age: 52 years, 52% male, 98% white). At 1-year follow-up, in adjusted models, CAMS-R (β: −0.35, p < 0.001) and baseline PCL-5 scores (β: 0.56, p < 0.001) were associated with 1-year PCL-5 scores. CAMS-R (β: −0.34, p < 0.001) and baseline PHQ-4 scores were associated with 1-year PHQ-4 scores (β: 0.37, p < 0.001). In conclusion, mindfulness was inversely associated with psychological symptoms in long-term CA survivors. Future studies should examine the longitudinal relationship of mindfulness and psychological symptoms after CA.

Measuring psychological distress using the K10 in Kenya

BACKGROUND

The Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) is a brief screening tool that assesses psychological distress in both clinical and epidemiological settings. Despite wide applicability of the K10 globally, there are no data on psychometric properties of the K10 in Kenya. This study investigated the reliability, factor structure, and construct validity of the K10 as a measure of psychological distress among adults in Kenya.

METHODS

A total of 2556 adults attending 11 outpatient clinics in the western and coastal regions of Kenya without a history or clinical diagnosis of psychotic disorders were included. Data were collected on demographic characteristics of the participants and the K10. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity and factor structures of the K10 were evaluated using both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approaches.

RESULTS

The mean K10 score was 3.4 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.85, indicating good internal consistency (reliability). EFA resulted in a two-factor solution that accounted for 67.6% of variance. CFA results indicated that a unidimensional model with correlated errors best fit the data.

LIMITATIONS

The K10 was only administered to a control group of our study population, which had low levels of psychological distress.

CONCLUSION

The K10 has good construct validity and reliability for use as a broad measure of psychological distress in Kenyan adults and may be useful in general medical setting to assess anxiety and depressive disorders.

Symptom Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Older Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Comparative Nationwide Register Study

Knowledge about psychological distress in older cardiac arrest (CA) survivors is sparse, and the lack of comparisons with general populations make it difficult to draw any strong conclusions about prevalence and potential changes caused by CA. Our aim was to compare psychological distress between older CA survivors and a general population. This study included survivors 65–80 years old and an age- and sex-matched general population. Data on survivors was collected from the Swedish Register of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure psychological distress. Data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics. The final sample included 1027 CA survivors and 1018 persons from the general population. In both groups, the mean age was 72 years (SD = 4) and 28% were women. The prevalence of anxiety was 9.9% for survivors and 9.5% for the general population, while the corresponding prevalence for depression was 11.3% and 11.5% respectively. Using the cut-off scores, no significant differences between the groups were detected. However, CA survivors reported significantly lower symptom levels using the subscale scores (ΔMdn = 1, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the CA survivors did not report higher symptom levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. However, since psychological distress is related to poor quality-of-life and recovery, screening for psychological distress remains important.

Hyperarousal Symptoms in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest Are Associated With 13 Month Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality

BACKGROUND

Key dimensions of cardiac arrest-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms include reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and hyperarousal. It remains unknown which dimensions are most predictive of outcome.

PURPOSE

To determine which dimensions of cardiac arrest-induced PTSD are predictive of clinical outcome within 13 months posthospital discharge.

METHODS

PTSD symptoms were assessed in survivors of cardiac arrest who were able to complete psychological screening measures at hospital discharge via the PTSD Checklist-Specific scale, which queries for 17 symptoms using five levels of severity. Responses on items for each symptom dimension of the four-factor numbing model (reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, and hyperarousal) were converted to Z-scores and treated as continuous predictors. The combined primary endpoint was all-cause mortality (ACM) or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; hospitalization for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, emergency coronary revascularization, or urgent defibrillator/pacemaker placements) within 13 months postdischarge. Four bivariate Cox proportional hazards survival models evaluated associations between individual symptom dimensions and ACM/MACE. A multivariable model then evaluated whether significant bivariate predictors remained independent predictors of the primary outcome after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, premorbid psychiatric diagnoses, and initial cardiac rhythm.

RESULTS

A total of 114 patients (59.6% men, 52.6% white, mean age: 54.6 ± 13 years) were included. In bivariate analyses, only hyperarousal was significantly associated with ACM/MACE. In a fully adjusted model, 1 standard deviation increase in hyperarousal symptoms corresponded to a two-times increased risk of experiencing ACM/MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater level of hyperarousal symptoms was associated with a higher risk of ACM/MACE within 13 months postcardiac arrest. This initial evidence should be further investigated in a larger sample.

Gaps in the Provision of Cognitive and Psychological Resources in Cardiac Arrest Survivors with Good Neurologic Recovery

We aimed to elucidate gaps in the provision of cognitive and psychological resources in cardiac arrest survivors. We conducted an online survey study between October 29, 2019, and November 15, 2019 with cardiac arrest survivors and caregiver members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. We queried survivors as to whether they experienced cognitive or psychological symptoms since their cardiac arrest. Next, we queried both survivors and caregivers on the provision of resources through three metrics: (1) discussions with providers about potential cognitive or psychological symptoms, (2) neurologist or psychologist appointments scheduled by providers, and (3) mental health referrals by providers. We then ran Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests to compare the proportion of survivors and caregivers who reported resource provision (observed values) to the proportion of survivors who reported experiencing cognitive and psychological symptoms, respectively (expected values). We included responses from 167 survivors and 52 caregivers. A total of 73.1% (n = 122) survivors reported experiencing cognitive symptoms and 67.1% (n = 112) psychological symptoms since their cardiac arrest. When compared to these two proportions, provision of resources was significantly lower in all three metrics: (1) fewer discussions with providers about potential for developing cognitive symptoms (31%) and psychological symptoms (26.3%), (2) fewer neurologist appointments scheduled (8.4%) and psychologist appointments scheduled (4.8%), and (3) fewer referrals to mental health (6%). Informal caregivers also reported significantly lower provision of resources in all three metrics, with the exception of discussions about developing cognitive symptoms. Our results suggest that there are discrepancies in the provision of cognitive and psychological resources in cardiac arrest survivors with good neurologic recovery. Systematic referral processes may be needed to standardize resource provision to consistently meet the pervasive cognitive and psychological needs of cardiac arrest survivors.

European Resuscitation Council and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine guidelines 2021: post-resuscitation care

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) have collaborated to produce these post-resuscitation care guidelines for adults, which are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. The topics covered include the post-cardiac arrest syndrome, diagnosis of cause of cardiac arrest, control of oxygenation and ventilation, coronary reperfusion, haemodynamic monitoring and management, control of seizures, temperature control, general intensive care management, prognostication, long-term outcome, rehabilitation and organ donation.

European Resuscitation Council and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Guidelines 2021: Post-resuscitation care

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) have collaborated to produce these post-resuscitation care guidelines for adults, which are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. The topics covered include the post-cardiac arrest syndrome, diagnosis of cause of cardiac arrest, control of oxygenation and ventilation, coronary reperfusion, haemodynamic monitoring and management, control of seizures, temperature control, general intensive care management, prognostication, long-term outcome, rehabilitation, and organ donation.

Modifiable provider-patient relationship factors and illness perceptions are associated with quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest with good neurologic recovery

Aim

To evaluate associations between provider-patient communication, readiness for discharge, and patients' illness perceptions with post-arrest quality of life (QoL).

Methods

We distributed an online survey to survivors of cardiac arrest who were members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Survivors completed the Questionnaire for the Quality of Provider-Patient Interactions (QQPPI), Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). When completing the QQPPI and RHDS, survivors were asked to think back to their hospitalization and discharge. QoL domains (physical, psychological, social) were measured via the WHO-QOL BREF. Three multiple regression models examined associations between QQPPI, RHDS, and B-IPQ scores with QoL domains, adjusted for age, sex, months since arrest, self-reported understanding of cardiac arrest and potential post-arrest symptoms at discharge, self-reported memory at discharge, and functional status as defined by the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale.

Results

A total of 163 survivors (mean age: 50.1 years, 50.3% women, 95.5% white, mean time since arrest: 63.9 months) provided complete survey data. More threatening illness perceptions (β: -0.45, p ​< ​0.001) and lower readiness for discharge (β: 0.21, p ​= ​0.01) were associated with worse physical QoL. More threatening illness perceptions (β: -0.47, p ​< ​0.001) was associated with worse psychological QoL. More threatening illness perceptions (β: -0.28, p ​= ​0.001) and poor provider-patient communication (β: 0.35, p ​< ​0.001) were associated with worse social QoL.

Conclusions

Modifiable provider-patient relationship factors and illness perceptions were associated with quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest with good neurologic recovery.

Associations Between Baseline Total PTSD Symptom Severity, Specific PTSD Symptoms, and 3-Month Quality of Life in Neurologically Intact Neurocritical Care Patients and Informal Caregivers

BACKGROUND

The objective is to pilot test the feasibility of assessing severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as specific lower-order PTSD symptoms, experienced during neurological intensive care unit (neuro-ICU) admission and their relationship with 3-month quality of life (QoL) scores in multiple domains (i.e., physical, psychological, social, and environmental) in both patients and caregivers.

METHODS

Between 2015 and 2016, we enrolled neurologically intact patients and informal caregivers of patients who reported demographics and PTSD symptoms (PTSD Checklist-Specific; PCL-S) during neuro-ICU admission and completed a QoL assessment (World Health Organization Quality of Life; WHOQOL-BREF) 3 months later. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. We ran two bivariate correlation matrices among PTSD symptom dimensions in patients and caregivers. Then, we used multiple linear regression to examine the prospective association of total PCL-S scores with each QoL domain in both patients and caregivers after adjusting for clinically important variables. Next, we explored differential associations between the 4 PTSD symptom dimensions and each QoL domain in both patients and caregivers, adjusting for sex and age.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients (45.7% women, 84.3% white, mean age 52.08 years) and 64 caregivers (64.1% women, 90.6% white, mean age 53.12 years) were included. PTSD symptom dimensions were moderately strongly correlated among patients (r = 0.65-0.79, p < 0.001) and caregivers (r = 0.55-0.78, p < 0.001). For both patients and caregivers, greater PTSD symptom severity was prospectively associated with lower QoL in all domains (β = - 0.289 to - 0.622; p < 0.05). Our exploratory analysis revealed that greater numbing symptoms were associated with lower psychological QoL in patients (β: - 0.397, p = 0.038), and lower physical (β: - 0.409, p = 0.014), psychological (β: - 0.519, p = 0.001), and social QoL (β: - 0.704, p < 0.001) in caregivers. Greater re-experiencing symptoms were associated with lower physical QoL in both patients (β: - 0.422, p = 0.047) and caregivers (β: - 0.4, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary results indicated that greater severity of PTSD symptoms, and specifically numbing and re-experiencing symptoms, experienced by patients and caregivers during neuro-ICU admission was predictive of worse 3-month QoL. Continued study is needed to identify treatment targets for PTSD and QoL in this population.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivorship: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Cardiac arrest systems of care are successfully coordinating community, emergency medical services, and hospital efforts to improve the process of care for patients who have had a cardiac arrest. As a result, the number of people surviving sudden cardiac arrest is increasing. However, physical, cognitive, and emotional effects of surviving cardiac arrest may linger for months or years. Systematic recommendations stop short of addressing partnerships needed to care for patients and caregivers after medical stabilization. This document expands the cardiac arrest resuscitation system of care to include patients, caregivers, and rehabilitative healthcare partnerships, which are central to cardiac arrest survivorship.