Cardiac arrest & resuscitation
Association between arterial carbon dioxide tension and poor outcomes after cardiac arrest: A meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Current evidence indicated that hypocapnia was associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality and poor neurological outcomes after CA; however, hypercapnia was associated with an increased risk of hospital mortality but did not appear to be associated with increased poor neurological outcomes after CA.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with cardiac arrest (CA)
- Participants
- 72,344 adults · 14 cohort studies · 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Hypocapnia or hypercapnia vs normal PaCO2 after CA
- Outcome
- Hospital mortality and poor neurological outcomes
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model, Literature search through October 2024
- Random-effects model
- Literature search through October 2024
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Hypocapniahospital mortality; 9 cohort studies
1.37(1.18–1.59)
P < 0.0001Hypocapniapoor neurological outcomes; 5 cohort studies
1.75(1.04–2.96)
P = 0.035Hypercapniahospital mortality; 10 trials (cohort studies)
1.40(1.13–1.73)
P = 0.002Hypercapniapoor neurological outcomes; 6 cohort studies
1.57(0.87–2.83)
P = 0.130Further pooled results
Poor neurological outcomes, mild hypercapnia (RCTs)
- Mild hypercapnia not associated with increased risk of poor neurological outcomes after CA
Original publication
Association between arterial carbon dioxide tension and poor outcomes after cardiac arrest: A meta-analysis. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Published 24 April 2025. doi:10.
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