Influences on the duration and success of out-of-hospital resuscitation of geriatric patients over 80 years of age - a retrospective evaluation.

Background: Society is experiencing an increasing shift in the age distribution and accordingly, increased resuscitation rates of patients over 80 years and older. In 2022, more than 34% of people resuscitated in Germany were older than 80 years, although older age is considered a poor predictor for the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Professional societies provide ethical recommendations on when resuscitation may be considered futile and should be terminated. However, the extent to which these recommendations are implemented is unclear.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of pre-hospital documentation of out-of-hospital resuscitations in patients ≥ 80 years of age in the period 01/01/2014-12/31/2022 in one German county combined with data of the German Resuscitation Registry. For statistical testing, the significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results: In total 578 cases were analyzed. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC): 26% (n = 148). Survival to discharge: 6.1% (n = 35). Median CPR duration: 17 min (10-28 min). The older the patients were, the worse the survival rate (p = 0.05) and the shorter the time to termination (p < 0.0001). No patient over 90 years of age was discharged alive. Resuscitation was also significantly shorter until termination with poorer ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) score (p < 0.001). Residents resuscitated significantly longer than specialists (p = 0.02). In surviving patients, there was a significant correlation between short CPR duration and good cerebral performance category (CPC) value: Median CPC1/2 = 5 min [3-10 min] vs. CPC 3/4 = 18 min [10-21 min]; p = 0.01.

Interpretation: Old age and poor health status is associated with shorter CPR duration until termination and older age is associated with poorer prognosis in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) concerning the possibility of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival. A short resuscitation time is associated with a better CPC value. Therefore, when resuscitating patients over 80 years of age, even greater care should be taken to ensure that reversible causes are quickly corrected in order to achieve a ROSC and a good neurological outcome. Alternatively, resuscitation should be terminated promptly, as good survival can no longer be guaranteed. Resuscitation lasting more than 20 min should be avoided in any case, in line with the termination of resuscitation (ToR) criteria.