Why Bystanders Did Not Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients: A Multi-Center Study in Hanoi (Vietnam)

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine why bystanders did not use formal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the scene for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Hanoi, Vietnam. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of OHCA patients admitted to five tertiary hospitals in the Hanoi area from June 2018 through January 2019. The data were collected through interviews (using a structured questionnaire) with bystanders. Results: Of the 101 patients, 79% were aged <65 years, 71% were men, 79% were witnessed to collapse, 36% were transported to the hospital by formal EMS, and 16% received bystander CPR at the scene. The most frequently indicated reason for not using EMS by the attendants was “using a private vehicle or taxi is faster” (85%). The reasons bystanders did not conduct CPR at the scene included “not recognizing the ailment as cardiac arrest” (60%), “not knowing how to perform CPR” (33%), and “being afraid of doing harm to patients” (7%). Only seven percent of the bystanders had been trained in CPR. Conclusion: The information revealed in this study provides useful information to indicate what to do to increase EMS use and CPR provision. Spreading awareness and training among community members regarding EMS roles, recognition of cardiac arrest, CPR skills, and dispatcher training to assist bystanders are crucial to improve the outcomes of OHCA patients in Vietnam.

Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA): Experience of a Bystander CPR Training Program in Karachi, Pakistan

Background: Nearly 90% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients are witnessed, yet only 2.3% received bystander CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Pakistan. This study aimed to determine retention of knowledge and skills of Hands-Only CPR among community participants in early recognition of OHCA and initiation of CPR in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: The pre and post-tests were conducted among participants from diverse non-health-related backgrounds from July 2018 to October 2019. Participants were tested for knowledge and skills of CPR before training (pre-test), immediately after training (post-test), and six months after training (retention test). All the participants received CPR training through video and scenario-based demonstration using manikins. Post-training CPR skills of the participants were assessed using a pre-defined performance checklist. The evaluator read out numerous case scenarios to the participants, such as drowning, poisoning, and road traffic injuries, etc., and then asked them to perform the critical steps of CPR identified in the scenario on manikins. The primary outcome was the mean difference in the knowledge score and skills of the participants related to the recognition of OHCA and initiation of CPR. Results: The pre and post-tests were completed by 722 participants, whereas the retention test after 6 months was completed by 358 participants. The mean knowledge score related to the recognition of OHCA, and initiation of CPR improved significantly (p <0.001) from pre-test (47.2/100, ±13.2) to post-test (69.9/100, ±12). The mean CPR knowledge after six months (retention) reduced slightly from (69.9/100, ±12) to (64.8/100, ±9.3). The CPR skill retention for various components (correct placement of the heel of hands, complete chest recoil, check for scene safety, check for a response, and activate emergency response system) slightly deteriorated from 79% in the post-test to 72% in re-test. However, participants performed slightly better on achieving an adequate rate of chest compressions from 73.7% in post-test to 75.5% in re-test.Conclusion: Community members with non-health backgrounds can learn and retain CPR skills, allowing them to be effective bystander CPR providers in OHCA situations. We recommend training the mass population in Pakistan regarding CPR to increase the survival rate from OHCA.

Community Initiatives to Promote Basic Life Support Implementation—A Scoping Review

Introduction: Early intervention of bystanders (the first links of the chain of survival) have been shown to improve survival and good neurological outcomes of patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Many initiatives have been implemented to increase the engagement of communities in early basic life support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), especially of lay people with no duty to respond. A better knowledge of the most effective initiatives might help improve survival and health system organization. Aim of the scoping review: To assess the impact of specific interventions involving lay communities on bystander BLS rates and other consistent clinical outcomes, and to identify relevant knowledge gaps. Methods: This scoping review was part of the continuous evidence evaluation process of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), and was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. We performed a literature search using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases until 1 February 2021. The screening process was conducted based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria, and for each included study, we performed data extraction focusing on the type of intervention implemented, and the impact of these interventions on the specific OHCAs outcomes. Results: Our search strategy identified 19 eligible studies, originating mainly from the USA (47.4%) and Denmark (21%). The type of intervention included in 57.9% of cases was a community CPR training program, in 36.8% bundled interventions, and in 5.3% mass-media campaigns. The most commonly reported outcome for OHCAs was bystander CPR rate (94.7%), followed by survival to hospital discharge (36.8%), proportion of people trained (31.6%), survival to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome (21%), and Return of Spontaneous Circulation (10.5%). Community training programs and bundled interventions improved bystander CPR in most of the included studies. Conclusion: Based on the results of our scoping review, we identified the potential benefit of community initiatives, such as community training in BLS, even as part of bundled intervention, in order to improve bystander CPR rates and patient outcomes.

Trend in survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and its relationship with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a six-year prospective observational study in Beijing

Background Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), a global health problem with a survival rate ranging from 2 to 22% across different countries, has been a leading cause of premature death for decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trends of survival after OHCA over time and its relationship with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), initial shockable rhythm, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and survived event. Methods In this prospective observational study, data of OHCA patients were collected following the “Utstein style” by the Beijing, China, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) from January 2011 (data from February to June in 2011 was not collected) to October 2016. Patients who had a cardiac arrest and for whom an ambulance was dispatched were included in this study. All cases were followed up to determine hospital discharge or death. The trend of OHCA survival was analyzed using the Chi-square test. The relationship among bystander CPR, initial shockable rhythm, ROSC, survived event, and OHCA survival rate was analyzed using multivariate path analyses with maximum standard likelihood estimation. Results A total of 25,421 cases were transferred by the Beijing EMS; among them, 5042 (19.8%) were OHCA (median age: 78 years, interquartile range: 63–85, 60.1% male), and 484 (9.6%) received bystander CPR. The survival rate was 0.6%, which did not improve from 2012 to 2015 (P = 0.569). Overall, bystander CPR was indirectly associated with an 8.0% (β = 0.080, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.064–0.095, P = 0.002) increase in survival rate. The indirect effect of bystander CPR on survival rate through survived event was 6.6% (β = 0.066, 95% CI = 0.051–0.081, P = 0.002), which accounted for 82.5% (0.066 of 0.080) of the total indirect effect. With every 1 increase in survived event, the possibility of survival rate will directly increase by 53.5% (β = 0.535, 95% CI = 0.512–0.554, P = 0.003). Conclusions The survival rate after OHCA was low in Beijing which has not improved between 2012 and 2015. The effect of bystander CPR on survival rate was mainly mediated by survived event. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12002149 (2 May, 2012, retrospectively registered). http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=7400

Bystander interventions and survival after exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest: a systematic review

ObjectiveTo evaluate the provision of bystander interventions and rates of survival after exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library and grey literature sources were searched from inception to November/December 2020.Study eligibility criteriaObservational studies assessing a population of exercise-related SCA (out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occurred during exercise or within 1 hour of cessation of activity), where bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and/or automated external defibrillator (AED) use were reported, and survival outcomes were ascertained.MethodsAmong all included studies, the median (IQR) proportions of bystander CPR and bystander AED use, as well as median (IQR) rate of survival to hospital discharge, were calculated.ResultsA total of 29 studies were included in this review, with a median study duration of 78.7 months and a median sample size of 91. Most exercise-related SCA patients were male (median: 92%, IQR: 86%–96%), middle-aged (median: 51, IQR: 39–56 years), and presented with a shockable arrest rhythm (median: 78%, IQR: 62%–86%). Bystander CPR was initiated in a median of 71% (IQR: 59%–87%) of arrests, whereas bystander AED use occurred in a median of 31% (IQR: 19%–42%) of arrests. Among the 19 studies that reported survival to hospital discharge, the median rate of survival was 32% (IQR: 24%–49%). Studies which evaluated the relationship between bystander interventions and survival outcomes reported that both bystander CPR and AED use were associated with survival after exercise-related SCA.ConclusionExercise-related SCA occurs predominantly in males and presents with a shockable ventricular arrhythmia in most cases, emphasising the importance of rapid access to defibrillation. Further efforts are needed to promote early recognition and a rapid bystander response to exercise-related SCA.

Abstract 9086: Sex Differences in the Association Between Bystander CPR and Survival for Patients With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with a better survival outcome in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, there may be cultural barriers in performing high-quality bystander CPR in women in some non-Western countries and the effect of bystander CPR on survival outcomes may differ by patients’ sex. Methods: Using data between 2012-2018 from a national OHCA registry from the Republic of Korea, we identified adult patients with OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology. The main exposures were bystander CPR and patients’ sex. The primary outcome was survival discharge and the secondary outcome was favorable neurological survival. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between bystander CPR and survival, adjusted for patients’ age, sex, socio-economic status, year of arrest, witnessed arrest status, initial OHCA rhythm, location of arrest, urbanization level of arrest location, and type of bystander. The interaction between bystander CPR and sex was explicitly evaluated in the models. Results: Of 101,505 patients with OHCA in the cohort, 34,124 (33.6 %) were women and 67,381 (64.4 %) were men. Bystander CPR was performed on 18,481 (54.2%) women and 35,904 (53.3%) men (p=0.07). Unadjusted rates of survival discharge were 4.5% in women and 9.5 % in men (p<0.001), and rates of favorable neurological survival were 2.5% in women and 6.4% in men (p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression models, there was a significant interaction (p=0.005) between bystander CPR and sex for survival to discharge, with an adjusted OR for bystander CPR of 1.16 (95% CI: 1.08-1.23) in men and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80-1.02) in women. For favorable neurological survival, there was also a significant interaction (p=0.01) between sex and bystander CPR, with an adjusted OR for bystander CPR of 1.47 (95% CI: 1.36-1.60) in men and 1.16 (95% CI: 0.98- 1.37) in women. Conclusions: In a national registry of OHCA from the Republic of Korea, men who received bystander CPR were more likely to survive whereas women who received bystander CPR were not.

Abstract 14171: Prehospital Outcomes and Patient Characteristics Associated With PulsePoint Dispatches for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Background: Mobile phone-based dispatch of volunteers to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been shown to increase the likelihood of early chest compressions and AED application. In the United States, limited characterization of patients encountered as a result of such systems exists, including PulsePoint Respond, a smartphone-based volunteer dispatch system. Objective: Examine prehospital case characteristics and outcomes from a multi-year deployment of PulsePoint in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Methods: Case data, including PulsePoint determinant triggers and timing, prehospital electronic health records (EHRs), and computer aided dispatch records were obtained for suspected EMS-treated OHCA cases that did and did not generate PulsePoint alerts within the service area of Pittsburgh EMS for the period July 2016 to October 2020. EHRs were reviewed to determine true OHCA status, and OHCA case characteristics were extracted according to the Utstein template. Key characteristics and the outcome of prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were summarized and compared between cases with and without PulsePoint dispatches. Chi-squared tests were used to determine statistical significance of relationships. Results: There were 1229 OHCA cases overall in the capture period, with an estimated 29.6% occurring in public. Of 840 total PulsePoint dispatches, 68 (8.1%) were for true OHCA. Forty-five (66.2%) of these were witnessed, 43 (63.2%) received bystander CPR, and 17 (25%) had an AED applied prior to first responder arrival. Twenty-seven (39.7%) had an initial shockable rhythm, and 34 (50%) achieved ROSC in the field. Compared to non-PulsePoint dispatch generating OHCA, PulsePoint alert-associated patients were significantly more likely to be male (p=0.024), have bystander CPR/AED application performed (p<0.001), have an initial shockable rhythm (p<0.001), and achieve ROSC (p<0.001). EMS response time, age, ALS response time, and witnessed status were not significantly different. Conclusions: A minority of PulsePoint dispatches in Pittsburgh were triggered by true OHCA. Among cases that did generate a PulsePoint dispatch, case characteristics were prognostically favorable.

Abstract 13209: Law Enforcement-Initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Care of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Little is known about the provision of care by law enforcement (LE) personnel within modern EMS systems. We evaluated LE performance of bystander CPR (BCPR) and associated outcomes in OHCA across Arizona. Methods: A total of 5,654 OHCA cases (1/1/2019-12/31/2019) were evaluated using the Save Hearts in Arizona Registry and Education (SHARE) cardiac arrest registry. Data were abstracted from all EMS patient care records (PCRs). If two parties provided BCPR, the first to give compressions was considered the provider for this analysis. Cases identified as “Stranger” or “Unknown” BCPR were manually evaluated for narrative data to identify BCPR provider when possible. Results: BCPR was provided in 2285 cases [48.8%; (95% CIs 47.4%, 50.3%)] after excluding 850 cases that occurred in healthcare facilities where personnel are duty-bound to provide CPR. LE provided BCPR in 444 patients [19.4% (17.8%, 21.1%)], second only to family/spouse [1143 pts; 50.0% (48.0%, 52.1%)]. Overall, 279 patients survived to hospital discharge [12.2%, (10.9%, 13.6%)]. The Table shows the rates of BCPR in each provider category and the associated rates of survival. Of note is that the rate of bystander AED use was more than four times higher in LE BCPR [6.3% (4.23%, 8.99%)] than family-provided BCPR [1.5% (0.87%, 2.37%; p < 0.0001)], but was still very low. Conclusions: In this statewide study that included more than 130 EMS agencies from frontier to urban settings, LE personnel were frequently involved in the care of OHCA patients within the 911 system response. To our knowledge, this magnitude of provision of BCPR by LE (nearly one in five BCPR cases) has not been reported previously. Furthermore, the consequential rate of LE response to OHCA provides the opportunity to significantly increase AED use. Our findings support the widespread and intentional training of LE in CPR and AED use and has the potential to improve survival in diverse settings.