Cardiac arrest & resuscitation
Fatigue, Anxiety and Depression 12 Months After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Population Based Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Fatigue, anxiety, and depression were common at 12 months after OHCA and are associated with poorer recovery. Fatigue exceeded population norms and may be an under-recognised component of cardiac arrest survivorship.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) who received EMS-attempted resuscitation and survived to hospital discharge following non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Victoria, Australia, between July 2019 and June 2022completed follow-up, of 1068 eligible 12-month survivors (68.2%), median age 61 years, 555 [76.2%] male
- Participants
- 728 adults
- Exposure
- Symptom burden in OHCA survivors compared with population norms
- Outcome
- Fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale)
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsstatewide OHCA registry, 12-month telephone interview
- Statewide OHCA registry
- 12-month telephone interview
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Fatigue
35.8%
250/699
Anxiety
22.6%
162/716
Depression
18.0%
129/716
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom burden compared with population norms · 12 monthsSurvivors vs Population norms | SMD, fatigue (greater in survivors) 0.64 (95% CI 0.50–0.78) | P < 0.001 |
| Symptom burden compared with population norms · 12 monthsSurvivors vs Population norms | SMD, depression (greater in survivors) 0.12 (95% CI 0.02,0.21) | P = 0.02 |
| Symptom burden compared with population norms · 12 monthsSurvivors vs Population norms | SMD, anxiety (lower in survivors) −0.27 (95% CI −0.35 to −0.18) | P < 0.001 |
Association of symptom burden with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional recovery and return to work · 12 months
- Higher symptom burden associated with lower EQ-5D and SF-12 scores, worse GOSE outcomes (all p<0.001) and reduced return-to-work rates
Factors associated with symptom burden (adjusted models)
- Younger age, preexisting anxiety or depression, diabetes and initial non-shockable arrest associated with higher symptom burden
- EMS-witnessed arrests associated with lower symptom burden
- Adjusted models
Original publication
Fatigue, Anxiety and Depression 12 Months After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Population Based Cohort Study. Resuscitation. Published 20 October 2026. doi:10.
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