The Rate of Successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: This study aims to provide information on the success rate of CPR in COVID-19 patients and some probable risk factors of mortality in these cases. Methods: In this historical cohort design, the CPR success rate probable risk factors of 737 critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in 17 hospitals in the catchment area of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, was evaluated between Feb and Apr 2020. Data were extracted from a database that is a part of a national integrated care electronic health record system and analyzed with logistic and Cox regression models. Results: COVID-19 cases were 341 (46.3%). The mean age in COVID-19 cases and non-COVID-19 patients were 70.0±14.6 and 63.0±19.3 years, respectively (P<0.001). The mortality was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients (99.1% vs. 74%, OR: 39.6, 95%CI: 12.4, 126.2). Cardiovascular diseases were the most frequent underlying disease (46.3% of COVID-19 cases and 35.1% of non-COVID-19 patients). Being a COVID-19 case (OR: 29.0, 95%CI: 8.9, 93.2), Intensive care unit admission (OR: 2.6, 95%CI: 1.5, 4.6) and age for each ten-year increase (OR: 1.2, 95%CI: 1.1, 1.4) were observed to be independent risk factors of mortality following CPR. The hazard ratio of being a COVID-19 patient was HR= 1.8 (95%CI: 1.5, 2.1). Conclusion: Critically ill COVID-19 patients who undergo CPR have a decreased chance of survival in comparison to non-COVID-19 patients.