Clinical characteristics of patients with cardiogenic shock after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) compared to patients with cardiogenic shock without OHCA

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock (CS) often complicates out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), contributing to high mortality despite therapeutic advances. METHODS: This study retrospectively analysed patients admitted to a tertiary centre between 2021-2024. The cohort of patients with CS was divided into two groups: OHCA with return of spontaneous circulation and non-OHCA. RESULTS: The study included 280 patients with a median age of 69 (60-76) years, of whom 197 (70%) males. There were 46 (16%) patients in the OHCA group and 234 (84%) in non-OHCA. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was a more frequent cause of CS in the OHCA group: 36 (78%) vs. 113 (48%), p < 0.01. The OHCA patients were less likely to have hypertension (41% vs. 63%, p < 0.01), chronic heart failure (CHF) (41% vs. 62%, p < 0.01), and a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (11% vs. 29%, p < 0.01). The OHCA patients exhibited lower C-reactive protein) levels and higher levels of white blood cells. Despite distinct profiles, there was no significant difference in mortality between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OHCA and non-OHCA CS exhibited distinct clinical profiles, with ACS as the leading cause of OHCA and chronic conditions were more often diagnosed in non-OHCA cases. Similar mortality rates suggest improved OHCA management, emphasizing the need for extensive data collection to assess shock risk.