Forty-two studies (n=1,707) were included in the review. Studies stratified according to subgroups included patients with solid tumours (n=718) and patients with haematologic malignancy or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=400). Sample sizes were between 3 and 396 patients.
Overall survival (42 studies).
One hundred and five patients (6.2%) survived to discharge and sensitivity analyses did not significantly alter the results. A trend for improved survival over time was not indicated using logistic regression.
The authors stated that heterogeneity was evident in several subgroups, but no details were provided.
Type of malignancy (10 studies).
There was a significant difference in resuscitation success for malignancy type, with greater success rates in patients with solid tumours than in patients with haematological malignancy: 7.1% versus 2.0% (OR 3.75, 95% CI: 1.76, 7.98, p<0.001). There were no significant differences in survival rates between patients with different types of haematological malignancy.
Location (10 studies).
A significant difference in resuscitation success was reported for location, with patients arresting on wards showing greater survival rates (10.1%) than those arresting on intensive care units: 10.1% versus 2.2% (OR 4.97, 95% CI: 2.30, 10.74, p<0.001).
Extent of disease (15 studies).
Resuscitation success was significantly higher for patients with localised disease than for patients with metastatic disease: 9.5% versus 5.6% (OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.00, 3.14, p=0.05). Significant differences in success rates were also reported for time period in patients with metastatic disease, with greater success after 1990 compared with pre-1990: 7.8% versus 0% (OR 1.87, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.46, p=0.05). Adjusting for location, no significant differences in survival were reported for extent of disease.