Is there a difference between women and men in characteristics and outcome after in hospital cardiac arrest?

Aim: To describe the characteristics and outcome among patients suffering from an in-hospital cardiac arrest in women and men. Methods: All patients who suffered an in-hospital cardiac arrest during a 3 year period in Sahlgrenska Hospital Goteborg, Sweden, where the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team was called, were recorded and described prospectively in terms of characteristics and outcome. Results: There were 557 patients suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest in whom the CPR-team was alerted. Among them, 217 (39%) were women. Women differed from men having a lower prevalence of earlier myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, renal disease and a higher prevalence of rheumatic disease. In terms of aetiology of the cardiac arrest, 47% men and 48% women were judged to have had a confirmed or possible AMT. More men than women were found in ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) (57 vs. 41%; P < 0.001), whereas more women were found in pulseless electrical activity (30 vs. 15%: P < 0.0001). Cerebral performance categories (CPC)-score at discharge did not differ between men and women. Among women, 36.4%;, survived to discharge as compared with 38.0%;, among men (NS). Survival from VF/VT was 64.3% in women and 52.7% in men (NS). When correcting for dissimilarities at baseline, the adjusted odd ratio for being discharged alive from hospital among women as compared with men was 1.66 (95% confidence limit 1.06-2.62; P = 0.028). Conclusion: Thirty nine percent of patients suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest for whom the CPR-team was alerted. were women. Women were less frequently found in VF;VT than men. After correcting for dissimilarities at baseline. female gender was associated with a small improvement in survival. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.