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Xu RH, Sun R, Fu SN. Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: Registry-Based Study From 2017 to 2023. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e56054. [PMID: 38771620 DOI: 10.2196/56054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a significant toll on individual health and the efficacy of health care systems. However, the influence of COVID-19 on the frequency and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) within the Chinese population, both before and throughout the entire pandemic period, remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to fill the gaps by investigating the prevalence and outcomes of OHCA in Hong Kong (HK) both before and during the whole pandemic period. METHODS This is a retrospective regional registry study. The researchers matched OHCA data with COVID-19-confirmed case records between December 2017 and May 2023. The data included information on response times, location of OHCA, witness presence, initial rhythm, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of public-access defibrillation, resuscitation in the accident and emergency department, and survival to admission. Descriptive analyses were conducted, and statistical tests such as analysis of variance and χ2 were used to examine differences between variables. The incidence of OHCA and survival rates were calculated, and logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations. The prevalence of OHCA and COVID-19 during the peak of the pandemic was also described. RESULTS A total of 43,882 cases of OHCA were reported in HK and included in our analysis. Around 13,946 cases were recorded during the prepandemic period (2017-2019), and the remaining 29,936 cases were reported during the pandemic period (2020-2023). During the pandemic period, the proportion of female patients increased to 44.1% (13,215/29,936), and the average age increased slightly to 76.5 (SD 18.5) years. The majority of OHCAs (n=18,143, 61.1% cases) occurred at home. A witness was present in 45.9% (n=10,723) of the cases, and bystander CPR was initiated in 44.6% (n=13,318) of the cases. There was a significant increase in OHCA incidence, with a corresponding decrease in survival rates compared to the prepandemic period. The location of OHCA shifted, with a decrease in incidents in public places and a potential increase in incidents at home. We found that CPR (odds ratio 1.48, 95% CI 1.17-1.86) and public-access defibrillation (odds ratio 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.28) were significantly associated with a high survival to admission rate during the pandemic period. There was a correlation between the development of OHCA and the prevalence of COVID-19 in HK. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on OHCA in HK, resulting in increased incidence and decreased survival rates. The findings highlight the importance of addressing the indirect effects of the pandemic, such as increased stress levels and strain on health care systems, on OHCA outcomes. Strategies should be developed to improve OHCA prevention, emergency response systems, and health care services during public health emergencies to mitigate the impact on population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Huan Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Ruiqi Sun
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Siu-Ngor Fu
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, China (Hong Kong)
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Bharmal M, DiGrande K, Patel A, Shavelle DM, Bosson N. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Cardiac Arrest and Emergency Care. Cardiol Clin 2024; 42:307-316. [PMID: 38631797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2024.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patient survival and neurologic outcome after both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest were reduced. Direct effects of the COVID-19 illness combined with indirect effects of the pandemic on patient's behavior and health care systems contributed to these changes. Understanding the potential factors offers the opportunity to improve future response and save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murtaza Bharmal
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Kyle DiGrande
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Akash Patel
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - David M Shavelle
- MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Long Beach Medical Center, 2801 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807, USA
| | - Nichole Bosson
- Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, 10100 Pioneer Boulevard Ste 200, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 W Carson Street, Torrance, CA, 90509, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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3
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Ball J, Nehme Z, Stub D. At an intersection of public health crises: Drugs, a pandemic, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation 2024; 195:110127. [PMID: 38295897 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2024.110127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- J Ball
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Z Nehme
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Moorooduc Highway, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - D Stub
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Baker Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Mok V, Brebner C, Yap J, Asamoah-Boaheng M, Hutton J, Haines M, Scheuermeyer F, Kawano T, Christenson J, Grunau B. Non-prescription drug-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Changes in incidence over time and the odds of receiving resuscitation. Resuscitation 2024; 195:110107. [PMID: 38160902 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.110107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple jurisdictions reported a significant increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) incidence over the past decade, however the reasons for this remain unclear. We investigated how drug-associated OHCA (DA-OHCA) contributed to overall OHCA incidence, and whether the likelihood of treatment by emergency medical services (EMS) was associated with DA-OHCA classification. METHODS Using a large provincial cardiac arrest registry, we included consecutive, non-traumatic adult OHCA from 2016-2022. We classified as drug-associated if there were historical accounts of non-prescription drug use within the preceding 24 hours or evidence of paraphernalia at the scene. We examined year-by-year trends in OHCA and DA-OHCA incidence. We also investigated the association between DA-OHCA and odds of EMS treatment using an adjusted logistic regression model. RESULTS Of 33,365 EMS-assessed cases, 1,985/18,591 (11%) of EMS-treated OHCA and 887/9,200 (9.6%) of EMS-untreated OHCA were DA-OHCA. Of EMS-treated DA-OHCA, the median age was 40 years (IQR 31-51), 1,059 (53%) had a known history of non-prescription drug use, and 570 (29%) were public-location. From 2016 to 2022, EMS-treated OHCA incidence increased from 60 to 79 per 100,000 person-years; EMS-treated DA-OHCA incidence increased from 3.7 to 9.1 per 100,000 person-years. The proportion of overall OHCA classified as DA-OHCA increased from 6.1% to 11.5%. DA-OHCA was associated with greater odds of EMS treatment (AOR 1.34; 95%CI 1.13-1.58). CONCLUSION Although EMS-treated DA-OHCA incidence increased by nearly three-fold, it comprised a minority of the overall OHCA increase during the study period. DA-OHCA was associated with an increased likelihood of EMS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Mok
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Callahan Brebner
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Justin Yap
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Asamoah-Boaheng
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jacob Hutton
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Emergency Health Services, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Morgan Haines
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Frank Scheuermeyer
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Takahisa Kawano
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
| | - Jim Christenson
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian Grunau
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Emergency Health Services, British Columbia, Canada.
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Armour R, Ghamarian E, Helmer J, Buick JE, Thorpe K, Austin M, Bacon J, Boutet M, Cournoyer A, Dionne R, Goudie M, Lin S, Welsford M, Grunau B. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian emergency medical system management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study. Resuscitation 2024; 194:110054. [PMID: 37992799 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.110054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
AIM We sought to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care provided by Canadian emergency medical system (EMS) clinicians to patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and whether any observed changes persisted beyond the initial phase of the pandemic. METHODS We analysed cases of adult, non-traumatic, OHCA from the Canadian Resuscitation Outcome Consortium (CanROC) registry who were treated between January 27th, 2018, and December 31st, 2021. We used adjusted regression models and interrupted time series analysis to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (January 27th, 2020 - December 31st, 2021)on the care provided to patients with OHCA by EMS clinicians. RESULTS There were 12,947 cases of OHCA recorded in the CanROC registry in the pre-COVID-19 period and 17,488 during the COVID-19 period. We observed a reduction in the cumulative number of defibrillations provided by EMS (aRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89 - 0.93, p < 0.01), a reduction in the odds of attempts at intubation (aOR 0.33, 95% CI 0.31 - 0.34, p < 0.01), higher rates of supraglottic airway use (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30, p < 0.01), a reduction in vascular access (aOR for intravenous access 0.84, 95% CI 0.79 - 0.89, p < 0.01; aOR for intraosseous access 0.89, 95% CI 0.82 - 0.96, p < 0.01), a reduction in the odds of epinephrine administration (aOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85 - 0.94, p < 0.01), and higher odds of resuscitation termination on scene (aOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.31 - 1.46, p < 0.01). Delays to initiation of chest compressions (2 min. vs. 3 min., p < 0.01), intubation (16 min. vs. 19 min., p = 0.01), and epinephrine administration (11 min. vs. 13 min., p < 0.01) were observed, whilst supraglottic airways were inserted earlier (11 min. vs. 10 min., p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with substantial changes in EMS management of OHCA. EMS leaders should consider these findings to optimise current OHCA management and prepare for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Armour
- Department of Paramedicine, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Australia; British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; Ambulance Victoria, Victoria, Australia; Applied Health Research Centre, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Ehsan Ghamarian
- Applied Health Research Centre, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennie Helmer
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Emergency Health Services, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason E Buick
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin Thorpe
- Applied Health Research Centre, Unity Health Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Austin
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Alexis Cournoyer
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Richard Dionne
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Goudie
- Frontenac Paramedic Services, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steve Lin
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Welsford
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada; Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Grunau
- British Columbia Resuscitation Research Collaborative, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Emergency Health Services, British Columbia, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, British Columbia, Canada
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6
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Alarcon SP, Pace JL, McDermott J, MacDowell S, Sheikh S. Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Frequency of Bystander Intervention in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests. Cureus 2023; 15:e50353. [PMID: 38213380 PMCID: PMC10781595 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM Rapid administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can significantly increase patient survival following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Through this study, we aimed to determine if the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the likelihood of OHCA victims receiving bystander-initiated CPR prior to EMS arrival. METHODS We used data collected by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) for years 2019 and 2020. Data was filtered to include only cases of OHCA where the status of bystander CPR was listed. We used a chi-square analysis to compare frequencies of patients receiving both bystander CPR and standard EMS interventions versus patients receiving only standard EMS interventions for the years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic declaration (2019 and 2020, respectively). RESULTS Of the 577,011 cases that met our inclusion criteria, 228,259 occurred in 2019 and 348,752 occurred in 2020. The frequency of OHCA cases that reported bystander-initiated CPR prior to EMS arrival significantly decreased from 2019 to 2020 (53.7% vs. 52.5%, P<.001). CONCLUSION Bystanders are often the first to administer CPR following a cardiac arrest. It was found that the likelihood of an OHCA victim receiving bystander CPR decreased from 2019 to 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Alarcon
- Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Jordan L Pace
- Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - James McDermott
- Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Sam MacDowell
- Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Shazia Sheikh
- Medical Education, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
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Bharmal M, DiGrande K, Patel A, Shavelle DM, Bosson N. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Cardiac Arrest and Emergency Care. Heart Fail Clin 2023; 19:231-240. [PMID: 36863815 PMCID: PMC9973546 DOI: 10.1016/j.hfc.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patient survival and neurologic outcome after both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest were reduced. Direct effects of the COVID-19 illness combined with indirect effects of the pandemic on patient's behavior and health care systems contributed to these changes. Understanding the potential factors offers the opportunity to improve future response and save lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murtaza Bharmal
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Kyle DiGrande
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Akash Patel
- Department of Cardiology, University of California Irvine Medical Center, 510 E Peltason Drive, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - David M Shavelle
- MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute, Long Beach Medical Center, 2801 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90807, USA
| | - Nichole Bosson
- Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, 10100 Pioneer Boulevard Ste 200, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 W Carson Street, Torrance, CA, 90509, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11020189. [PMID: 36673557 PMCID: PMC9858873 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a prominent cause of death worldwide. As indicated by the high proportion of COVID-19 suspicion or diagnosis among patients who had OHCA, this issue could have resulted in multiple fatalities from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurring at home and being counted as OHCA. Methods: We used the MeSH term "heart arrest" as well as non-MeSH terms "out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death, OHCA, cardiac arrest, coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)." We conducted a literature search using these search keywords in the Science Direct and PubMed databases and Google Scholar until 25 April 2022. Results: A systematic review of observational studies revealed OHCA and mortality rates increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same period of the previous year. A temporary two-fold rise in OHCA incidence was detected along with a drop in survival. During the pandemic, the community's response to OHCA changed, with fewer bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPRs), longer emergency medical service (EMS) response times, and worse OHCA survival rates. Conclusions: This study's limitations include a lack of a centralised data-gathering method and OHCA registry system. If the chain of survival is maintained and effective emergency ambulance services with a qualified emergency medical team are given, the outcome for OHCA survivors can be improved even more.
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Bíró K, Deák MS, Pápai G, Nagy A, Dombrádi V, Szabó GT, Boruzs K, Bányai G, Csató G. The Emergency Performance of the Hungarian Ambulance Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10112331. [PMID: 36421656 PMCID: PMC9690681 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10112331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the whole health sector, particularly on emergency services. Our aim was to examine the performance of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service during the first four waves of the pandemic. We defined the 2019 performance of the service as the baseline and compared it with the activity during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. The data contained deliveries related to acute myocardial infarction, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, overall non-COVID-related ambulance deliveries, COVID screenings performed by the ambulance service, and COVID-related ambulance deliveries. The data were aggregated for each week of the investigated time period and stratified by gender and age. Compared with the pre-pandemic era, we found a significant increase in all three medical conditions and overall deliveries (p < 0.001 in all cases). As a result of the increased burden, it is important for emergency services to prepare for the next global epidemic and to improve organizational performance and rescue activities. The Hungarian example highlights that in a pandemic, it can be beneficial to organize the emergency care of a country or a larger region under a single provider with a single decision maker supported by business intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Bíró
- Institute of Health Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Máté Sándor Deák
- Institute of Health Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4028 Debrecen, Hungary
- Correspondence:
| | - György Pápai
- Hungarian National Ambulance Service, 1055 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Nagy
- Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4028 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Viktor Dombrádi
- Health Services Management Training Centre, Faculty of Health and Public Administration, Semmelweis University, 1125 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Tamás Szabó
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Klára Boruzs
- Institute of Health Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gábor Bányai
- Institute of Health Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gábor Csató
- Hungarian National Ambulance Service, 1055 Budapest, Hungary
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Fazel MF, Mohamad MHN, Sahar MA, Juliana N, Abu IF, Das S. Readiness of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (BCPR) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10968. [PMID: 36078684 PMCID: PMC9518324 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a strong link in the of survival for sudden cardiac arrest. Hence, bystander CPR (BPCR) plays an important role in curbing mortality and morbidity from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. However, the recent global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted both public training and confidence in performing out-of-hospital CPR. This paper reviews detailed information from databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science on the readiness of BCPR during the pandemic. We also discussed the challenges bystanders encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the precautions to follow. Finally, we also highlighted the limitations which would benefit future endeavours in establishing well-planned and sustainable CPR training programs for the public. Therefore, regardless of the existing COVID-19 pandemic, BCPR must be emphasised to curb out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Fattah Fazel
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
- Institute of Medical Science Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur 50250, Malaysia
| | | | - Mohd Azmani Sahar
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
| | - Norsham Juliana
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
| | - Izuddin Fahmy Abu
- Institute of Medical Science Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur 50250, Malaysia
| | - Srijit Das
- Department of Human and Clinical Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Alkoudh, Muscat 123, Oman
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Yap J, Scheuermeyer FX, van Diepen S, Barbic D, Straight R, Wall N, Asamoah-Boaheng M, Christenson J, Grunau B. Temporal trends of suicide-related non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest characteristics and outcomes with the COVID-19 pandemic. Resusc Plus 2022; 9:100216. [PMID: 35261992 PMCID: PMC8890978 DOI: 10.1016/j.resplu.2022.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Jurisdictions have reported COVID-19-related increases in the incidence and mortality of non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We hypothesized that changes in suicide incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to these changes. We investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in the: (1) incidence of suicide-related OHCA, and (2) characteristics and outcomes of such cases. Methods We used the provincial British Columbia Cardiac Arrest Registry, including non-traumatic emergency medical system (EMS)-assessed OHCA, to compare suicide-related OHCA (defined as clear self-harm or a priori communication of intent) one-year prior to, and one year after, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 15, 2020). We calculated differences in incidence (with 95% CI), overall and within subgroups of mechanism (hanging, suffocation, poisoning, or unclear mechanism), and in case characteristics and hospital-discharge favourable neurological outcomes (CPC 1–2). Results Of 13,785 EMS-assessed OHCA, we included 274/6430 (4.3%) pre-pandemic and 221/7355 (3.0%) pandemic-period suicide-related cases. The median age was 43 years (IQR 30–57), 157 (32%) were female, and 7 (1.4%) survived with favourable neurological status. Suicide-related OHCA incidence decreased from 5.4 pre-pandemic to 4.3 per 100 000 person-years (-1.1, 95% CI −2.0 to −0.28). Hanging-related OHCA incidence also decreased. Patient characteristics and hospital discharge outcomes between periods were similar. Conclusion Suicide-related OHCA incidence decreased with the COVID-19 pandemic and we did not detect changes in patient characteristics or outcomes, suggesting that suicide is not a contributor to increases in COVID-related OHCA incidence or mortality. Overall suicide-related OHCA outcomes in both time periods were poor.
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Arrest and Emergency Care. Cardiol Clin 2022; 40:355-364. [PMID: 35851459 PMCID: PMC8960232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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Metelmann C, Metelmann B, Müller MP, Böttiger BW, Trummer G, Thies KC. First responder systems can stay operational under pandemic conditions: results of a European survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2022; 30:10. [PMID: 35183230 PMCID: PMC8857892 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-022-00998-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dispatching first responders (FR) to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in addition to the emergency medical service has shown to increase survival. The promising development of FR systems over the past years has been challenged by the outbreak of COVID-19. Whilst increased numbers and worse outcomes of cardiac arrests during the pandemic suggest a need for expansion of FR schemes, appropriate risk management is required to protect first responders and patients from contracting COVID-19. This study investigated how European FR schemes were affected by the pandemic and what measures were taken to protect patients and responders from COVID-19. Methods To identify FR schemes in Europe we conducted a literature search and a web search. The schemes were contacted and invited to answer an online questionnaire during the second wave of the pandemic (December 2020/ January 2021) in Europe. Results We have identified 135 FR schemes in 28 countries and included responses from 47 FR schemes in 16 countries. 25 schemes reported deactivation due to COVID-19 at some point, whilst 22 schemes continued to operate throughout the pandemic. 39 schemes communicated a pandemic-specific algorithm to their first responders. Before the COVID-19 outbreak 20 FR systems did not provide any personal protective equipment (PPE). After the outbreak 19 schemes still did not provide any PPE. The majority of schemes experienced falling numbers of accepted call outs and decreasing registrations of new volunteers. Six schemes reported of FR having contracted COVID-19 on a mission. Conclusions European FR schemes were considerably affected by the pandemic and exhibited a range of responses to protect patients and responders. Overall, FR schemes saw a decrease in activity, which was in stark contrast to the high demand caused by the increased incidence and mortality of OHCA during the pandemic. Given the important role FR play in the chain of survival, a balanced approach upholding the safety of patients and responders should be sought to keep FR schemes operational. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13049-022-00998-3.
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Al-Shiakh S, Tran QK, Caggiula A, Berezowski I, Barnawi B, Pourmand A. Attitudes among healthcare professionals towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation during COVID-19. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 52:34-42. [PMID: 34861518 PMCID: PMC8591860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are a leading cause of mortality in the United States. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the landscape of response to OHCAs, particularly with regard to providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We aimed to describe, characterize, and address the attitudes and concerns of healthcare workers towards CPR of OHCA patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study of healthcare workers and trainees in the United States and Saudi Arabia via an online survey available between October 2020, and May 2021. The primary outcome of interest was willingness to perform CPR for OHCA, with confidence to handle CPR for OHCA as our secondary outcome. RESULTS A total of 501 healthcare professionals, including 436 (87%) with background in emergency medicine, participated in our survey. 331 (66%) reported being willing to perform CPR for OHCA, while 170 (34%) were not willing. 311 (94%) willing participants stated that their medical oath and moral responsibility were the main motivators for willingness, while a fear of contracting COVID-19 was the primary demotivating factor for 126 (74%) unwilling participants. Time series analysis with simple exponential smoothing showed an increase in willingness to perform CPR from 30% to 50%, as well as an increase in mean confidence level to perform CPR from 60% to 70%, between October 2020 and May 2021. CONCLUSIONS The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected healthcare workers' attitudes towards performing CPR for OHCA. Confidence levels and willingness to perform CPR increased over time during the study period. Efforts should be directed towards the creation of standardized and evidence-based guidelines for CPR during COVID-19, as well as increasing knowledge regarding risks of infection and effective use of PPE during resuscitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safinaz Al-Shiakh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Quincy K Tran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Program in Trauma, The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amy Caggiula
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ivan Berezowski
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Basma Barnawi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Pourmand
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
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Baldi E, Cortegiani A. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during the COVID-19 era: The importance to fight against fear. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 48:338-339. [PMID: 34420857 PMCID: PMC8176882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.05.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Baldi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology and Experimental Cardiology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Andrea Cortegiani
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Science (Di.Chir.On.S.), University of Palermo, Italy; Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Policlinico Paolo Giaccone, Palermo, Italy
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Trabattoni D, Ravagnani PM, Merlino L, Montorsi P, Bartorelli AL. The bimodal "rise and fall" ACS curve overlapping COVID-19 pandemic peaks. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 2021; 11:295-299. [PMID: 34322300 PMCID: PMC8303045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak harmed acute coronary syndromes. During the national lockdown in Italy, the fear of post-admission contagion translated into significant delays in seeking medical help among STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) patients. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS Our analysis aimed to assess the ACS (Acute Coronary Syndromes) admissions during the pandemic, together with time to presentation and clinical outcomes compared to 2019 in a cardiovascular hub in Milan. Data of ACS patients admitted during the pandemic year 2020 were extracted by the hospital's database and compared to a historical cohort of patients admitted for the same clinical indications in 2019. RESULTS A total of 599 ACS cases were recorded in 2020 vs. 386 cases in 2019, with a net 55% increase, associated with late clinical presentations, a threefold increase in cardiogenic shock, and a more than two-fold higher mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS The ultimate goal of this analysis is to preserve the life-saving focus on universal and prompt STEMI diagnosis and treatment, even in a time of dynamic global crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Piero Montorsi
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCSMilan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of MilanItaly
| | - Antonio L Bartorelli
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCSMilan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, “Luigi Sacco”, University of MilanMilan, Italy
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Ong J, Pourmand A, O'Connell F. An international perspective of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 48:340-341. [PMID: 34119363 PMCID: PMC8189746 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Ong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ali Pourmand
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
| | - Francis O'Connell
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States
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