Children who suffer cardiac arrest while hospitalized are more likely to die during night shift

Hospitalized children are more likely to die after a cardiac arrest if it occurs during the night shift, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013.

Adults who suffer a cardiac arrest while hospitalized are already known to fare worse if resuscitation is needed during the night shift.

This AHA Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation Registry study is the first documentation of a similar effect in children.

Of 10,541 consecutive cardiac arrests in patients under age 18 in 2000-10, the researchers found:

• Thirty-four percent of children survived to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest during the night shift (11 p.m.-6:59 a.m.).
• Thirty-eight percent of children survived after cardiac arrest on day or evening shifts.
• Survival following nightshift cardiac arrest was 13 percent lower after accounting for differences in patient and hospital characteristics.