Article

For survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with good
outcomes, it is not known whether and how health-related quality of life is
affected by the cognitive impairments frequently observed in these patients.
This study explores how neuropsychological tests of memory, exe-cutive and psychomotor
functioning relate to the physical and mental aspects of health-related quality
of life in functionally independent and community dwelling OHCA survivors
discharged early from hospital. METHODS: The study included 42 adult survivors
(mean age 62 years, 38 males). Health-related quality of life was measured
approximately 3 months post-OHCA with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36
(SF-36). Cognition was measured with established neuropsychological tests.
Regression analyses were used to examine associations between neuropsychological
domains and physical and mental health-related quality of life, respectively,
when controlling for age, education and length of coma. RESULTS: The physical,
but not the mental, component of the SF-36 was significantly worse than Norwegian
population data. Neuropsychological tests showed frequent impairments most often
in the memory domain. Worse psychomotor functioning was associated with worse
physical health-related quality of life, whereas worse memory performance was
associated with worse mental health-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: The
cognitive impairments frequently reported in OHCA survivors with good outcomes
may compromise health-related quality of life. Cognitive functioning should be
addressed even in survivors with rapid recovery.

Langue : ANGLAIS