Disruptions in Sleep Health and Independent Associations with Psychological Distress in Close Family Members of Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Prospective Study.

Background: While recent guidelines have noted the deleterious effects of poor sleep on cardiovascular health, the upstream impact of cardiac arrest-induced psychological distress on sleep health metrics among families of cardiac arrest survivors remains unknown. Methods: Sleep health of close family members of consecutive cardiac arrest patients admitted at an academic center (8/16/2021 - 6/28/2023) was self-reported on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. The baseline PSQI administered during hospitalization was cued to sleep in the month before cardiac arrest. It was then repeated one month after cardiac arrest, along with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) to assess depression severity. Multivariable linear regressions estimated the associations of one-month total PHQ-8 scores with changes in global PSQI scores between baseline and one month with higher scores indicating deteriorations. A prioritization exercise of potential interventions categorized into family's information and well-being needs to alleviate psychological distress was conducted at one month. Results: In our sample of 102 close family members (mean age 52±15 years, 70% female, 21% Black, 33% Hispanic), mean global PSQI scores showed a significant decline between baseline and one month after cardiac arrest (6.2±3.8 vs. 7.4±4.1; p<0.01). This deterioration was notable for sleep quality, duration, and daytime dysfunction components. Higher PHQ-8 scores were significantly associated with higher change in PSQI scores, after adjusting for family members' age, sex, race/ethnicity, and patient's discharge disposition [ß=0.4 (95% C.I 0.24, 0.48); p<0.01]. Most (n=72, 76%) prioritized interventions supporting information over well-being needs to reduce psychological distress after cardiac arrest. Conclusions: There was a significant decline in sleep health among close family members of cardiac arrest survivors in the acute phase following the event. Psychological distress was associated with this sleep disruption. Further investigation into their temporal associations is needed to develop targeted interventions to support families during this period of uncertainty. WHAT IS KNOWN: Sleep health has been identified as a key element in maintaining cardiovascular health.Close family members of critically ill patients experience suboptimal sleep health and psychological distress may contribute to it. WHAT THE STUDY ADDS: It is breaking new ground in understanding the sleep health dynamics of close family members of cardiac arrest survivors, a critical but often overlooked group of caregivers.The study highlights significant associations between psychological distress and poor sleep that further deteriorates within the first month after a loved one's cardiac arrest.Families of cardiac arrest survivors expressed a high priority for information-based interventions to help alleviate psychological distress during the initial month following the cardiac event emphasizing the need for targeted, accessible, resources to address their psychological and potentially sleep-related challenges.

Lower perceived social support is significantly associated with elevated levels of psychological distress in racially and ethnically diverse close family members of cardiac arrest survivors.

Background: Poor perceived social support has been associated with worse psychological distress in close family members after their loved one's hospitalization with prolonged mechanical ventilation, but never been tested after cardiac arrest. Methods: Close family members of consecutive cardiac arrest patients hospitalized at an academic tertiary care center were recruited before hospital discharge, and perceived social support was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Indicators of psychological distress were administered via telephone at 1 month after cardiac arrest. Multivariate linear regressions were used to estimate the associations between MSPSS total score and total Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) score (primary outcome) and total PTSD (PCL-5) and generalized anxiety (GAD-2) scores, after adjusting for previously known covariates. Results: Of 102 close family members (mean age 52 ± 15 years, 70% female, 40% non-Hispanic white, 21% Black, 33% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% with pre-existing psychiatric illness) with complete data, the mean PHQ-8 total score at a median duration of 28.5 days (interquartile range 10-63 days) from cardiac arrest was 7± 6, and the mean MSPSS score was 69 ± 15. Lower perceived social support was significantly associated with elevated levels of depressive symptoms in univariate (ß=-0.11; p<0.01) and after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and previous psychiatric history (ß=-0.11; p<0.01). Similar inverse associations were seen with 1 month PTSD and generalized anxiety symptoms as secondary outcomes. Conclusions: Close family members of cardiac arrest survivors' perception of poor social support during hospitalization is associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms at 1 month. Longitudinal studies understanding the temporal associations between social support and psychological distress are warranted.

Prioritizing intervention preferences to potentially reduce caregiver burden in racially and ethnically diverse close family members of cardiac arrest survivors.

AIM: Close family members of cardiac arrest patients who survive to hospital discharge have elevated levels of psychological distress and caregiver burden. We assessed their preferences toward needs during hospitalization and beyond to inform intervention development. METHODS: Through an online survey developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, cardiac arrest survivors, and families, adult close family members recruited through advocacy organizations ranked top choice among 8 unique interventions addressing either information-based needs (n = 4) or well-being needs (n = 4). Logistic Regression analysis was conducted to assess the associations of family members' attributes, caregiving characteristics, and survivors' hospitalization factors with two intervention groups. RESULTS: Of 657 responses received, ranking data of 550 close family members (59% between 18-40 years of age, 65% female, 51% of minority race/ethnicity, 53% partners, provided a median of 8 hours of caregiving, for a median of 4.5 months) were analyzed. Information needs were the more commonly preferred intervention group (63%; n = 347), with education on the potential recovery of survivors ranking first (28%; n = 149). In a multivariate model, family members age >40 years, families witnessing the cardiac arrest, assuming the caregiver role either during hospitalization or within one month of hospital discharge, and discharging directly to home were significantly associated with prioritizing information needs over well-being needs, after adjusting for sex, race, intensity, and duration of caregiving. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions focusing on information needs are among the top priorities for families of cardiac arrest survivors. Prospective studies testing these hypotheses-generating findings are needed to inform further intervention development.

Family experiences and health outcomes following a loved ones' hospital discharge or death after cardiac arrest: A scoping review.

Aim: Synthesise the existing literature on experiences and health outcomes of family members of adult cardiac arrest patients either after hospital discharge or death and identify gaps and targets for future research. Methods: Following recommended scoping review guidelines and reporting framework, we developed an a priori protocol and searched five large biomedical databases for all relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language through 8/8/2022. Studies reporting either on the experiences or health outcomes of family members of adult cardiac arrest patients who survived to hospital discharge (i.e., co-survivors) or bereaved family members were included. Study characteristics were extracted and findings were reviewed for co-survivors and bereaved family members. We summarised practice recommendations and evidence gaps as reported by the studies. Results: Of 44 articles representing 3,598 family members across 15 countries and 5 continents, 89% (n = 39) were observational. Co-survivors described caregiving challenges and difficulty transitioning to life at home after hospital discharge. Co-survivors as well as bereaved family members reported significant and persistent psychological burden. Enhanced communication, information on what to expect after hospital discharge or the death of their loved ones, and emotional support were among the top recommendations to improve family members' experiences and health outcomes. Conclusion: Family members develop significant emotional burdens and physical symptoms as they deal with their loved ones' critical illnesses and uncertain, unpredictable recovery. Interventions designed to reduce family members' psychological distress and uncertainty prevalent throughout the illness trajectory of their loved ones admitted with cardiac arrest are needed.

Psychological Distress After Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Its Impact on Recovery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the prevalence, correlates, and health consequences of poor mental health in the increasingly sizable population of survivors of Sudden cardiac arrest (CA) and to describe current intervention research in this area. RECENT FINDINGS: After CA many patients report high psychological distress, including depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Emerging evidence suggests that distressed patients' attention may narrow such that anxious awareness of afferent cardiac signals e.g., changes in heart rate or blood pressure, becomes predominant and a cause for concerned, constant monitoring. This cardiac-specific anxiety followed by behavioral avoidance and physiological hyperreactivity may increase patients' already high risk of secondary cardiovascular disease and undermine their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Unlike other cardiovascular diseases, no clinical practice guidelines exist for assessing or treating psychological sequelae of CA. Future research should identify modifiable psychological targets to reduce secondary cardiovascular disease risk and improve HRQoL.