To determine the attitudes and preferences of post-cardiac arrest patients towards physical activity after hospital discharge

Aerobic exercise is critical for functional, cognitive, and psychological health after acute coronary syndromes. Cardiac arrest (CA) patients commonly exhibit symptoms of exercise-associated anxiety, which has been associated with decreased rehabilitation participation and increased one-year mortality risk.

This prospectively collected data included 20 consecutive patients ≥18 years, resuscitated after in-or-out-of-hospital CA between 3/1/2019 and 9/1/2019 in a single tertiary care center, who survived to hospital discharge. 4 of these patients’ primary caregivers were also interviewed. A semi-structured interview was used to determine their attitudes and perceptions around physical activity after hospital discharge.

Of 24 completed surveys, there were 10 women; the average age was 55±18 years. Among the most significant findings, 61% of respondents believed that it was “not safe” to “somewhat safe” for post-CA patients to do physical activity at home without medical supervision. More than half (59%) endorsed that discharged patients are "not at all” to “somewhat” likely to do physical activity at home. The majority (82%) of respondents said that they would be “very” to “extremely” interested in trying the described program, and many expressed that current information and support is inadequate.  The most desired feature was the provision of individualized medical information rather than emotional support.  For example, 91% of respondents rated knowing when the intensity of their physical activity is inappropriately high as extremely useful, while only 50% of respondents rated attending a support group as extremely useful.

Cardiac arrest survivors and their caregivers showed significant concern and cardiac anxiety associated with physical activity. There is a significant interest in a web-based program with in-person assistance and individualized guidelines about what type of exercise is safe at home.