To assess the association between MEWS values and patient survival following in-hospital CA.
Retrospective cohort study of patients who experienced in-hospital CA. The relationship between CA survival and MEWS values as well as other risk factors such as age, gender and type of electrographic cardiac rhythms was analyzed using logistic regression.
Survival rate to hospital discharge was 21%. Strong predictors for survival were MEWS values at hospital admission (p < .002), younger age (p < .005), ventricular fibrillation (p < .0001), and ventricular tachycardia (p < .0001). Gender and MEWS 4 hours prior to CA were not significantly associated with survival.
Survival following CA was significantly associated with MEWS at hospital admission but not 4 hours prior to CA. The type of cardiac rhythm and age were also predictive of survival.