Background Factors that affect prognosis in successfully resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCA) patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who survived the initial 24 h period of post-resuscitation have not been established. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical prognostic factors associated with 90-day survival in patients who were successfully resuscitated from OHCA.

Methods This study was conducted at a tertiary large university hospital. Clinical data were obtained from the medical records of 224 adult non-traumatic patients who were successfully resuscitated from OHCA and who survived the initial 24 h post-resuscitation phase. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent predictors associated with 90-day survival.

Results Significant adverse prognosticators included liver cirrhosis (HR 4.36, 95% CI 1.76 to 10.79), prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration >20 min (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.00) and underlying malignancy (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.54). Favourable prognostic factors included the best Glasgow Coma Scale within 24–48 h after return of spontaneous circulation >5 (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.68), mean arterial pressure on ICU admission >100 mmHg (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.94) and the presenting rhythm of pulseless electrical activity (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.63). A high burden of comorbidities (by Charlson score >5) was associated with significantly poorer 90-day survival (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.49).

Conclusions Underlying comorbidities have a significant influence on survival. CPR duration, post-resuscitative blood pressure and early neurological recovery may serve as practical clinical predictors of short-term survival.