| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Title: In-hospital cardiac arrests in 2014, -15 and -16 – difference between monitored and unmonitored wards. Background: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) continues to be a major concern for patients admitted to hospital with severe illness, with a significant mortality rate. An improved understanding of the differences between patients in an unmonitored ward vs. patients in a monitored ward - concerning prevalence, arrest characteristics, treatment and outcome - could make a difference in handling and treating patients as well as future contingency plans. Methods: A retrospective study looking at all in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCA) at Oslo University Hospitals (OUS) from January 2014 to December 2016, comparing monitored vs. unmonitored beds. Results: Of a total 503 IHCAs registered during the three years, 343 occurred in either monitored or ordinary wards and were included in the study. Of those, 210 (61 %) occurred at monitored wards, whilst 133 (39 %) happened at unmonitored wards. Patients at monitored wards were generally younger (61 ± 17 vs. 69 ± 15, p < 0.05) Men represented the bulk of the patients in both groups (69 %, p = 0.735). There are more patients with a previously registered cardiac arrest at monitored beds compared to unmonitored beds (32 % vs. 2 %, p < 0.05). The patients at the monitored wards had a higher percentage of presumed cardiac cause (67 % vs. 32 %, p < 0.05), and they also had a shockable rhythm more often (53 % vs. 21 %, p < 0.05) than patients at unmonitored wards. Only one shock was administered in 58 % of the incidents in both groups. Survival to discharge at monitored bed was 48 % vs. 24 % at unmonitored beds (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In-hospital cardiac arrest is still an important issue in hospitals, with a significant mortality rate. Whether the IHCA happens at an unmonitored or monitored bed is an important factor regarding patient survival. Better identification of at-risk patients in unmonitored beds could improve patient survival in the future. | eng |