Higher chance of survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attributed to poisoning

The German Resuscitation Registry - Epidemiological data for out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest

Introduction

The German Resuscitation Registry was started in 2007 and collects data on out-of-hospital as well as in-hospital cardiac arrest and resuscitation. It has collected more than 400.000 datasets till today.

Methods

The German Resuscitation Registry (GRR) is a voluntary quality improvement tool and research tool for out-of-hospital and in-hospital resuscitation as well as in-hospital emergency treatment. It collects data for initial treatment, in-hospital care as well as long-term outcome in an online database. For risk stratification two scores have been developed, published, and implemented. The participants are getting annual and monthly or quarterly reports in addition to the standardized online, 24/7 available analyzing options. An annual public report is published as well. We are reporting on the OHCA annual report of 2022.

Results

In 2022 the incidence of CPR started or continued by EMS was 77.6/100.000 inhabitants/year. The mean age was 70.2 years and 66.7% were male bystanders who started CPR in 51.3%. The average response time for the first EMS vehicle to arrive on scene was 6:55 min.In 57.9% of the cases, they had a presumed cardiac cause. The primary outcome, return-of-spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 42.1%.

Discussion

With its more than 450.000 included datasets, the GRR is an established tool for quality improvement and research in Germany and internationally. The results for the incidence of OHCA and outcome from 2022 are compared to EuReCa TWO data ranging in the upper third of European countries. Furthermore, the GRR has contributed to increasing knowledge of OHCA by conducting and publishing research e.g. on epidemiology, airway management, and medication of OHCA.

Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of poisoning-induced cardiac arrest in Japan: Retrospective analysis of a nationwide registry

BACKGROUND

Poisoning is an important cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest which can be challenging to manage. Neurological outcomes after poisoning-induced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) are yet to be fully elucidated. This retrospective cohort study sought to describe the characteristics of POHCA, and identify factors associated with favourable neurologic outcomes.

METHODS

Cardiac arrests recorded in the "All Japan Utstein Registry" from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017 were included. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of POHCA and non-POHCA patients was performed. Neurological outcomes were compared between the POHCA and non-POHCA groups using logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients who underwent prolonged resuscitation.

RESULTS

Compared to non-POHCA patients (n = 665,262), POHCA patients (n = 1,868) were younger (median age, 80 vs 51 years) and had a lower likelihood of having a witness, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and an initial shockable rhythm. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that POHCA was associated with favourable neurologic outcomes (odds ratio 1.54, 95 % confidence interval 1.19-2.01, p = 0.001). Among patients who received > 30 min of resuscitation, neurologic outcomes were similar in those with POHCA and non-POHCA (favourable neurologic outcome, 1.03 % vs 0.98 %, p = 0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

POHCA is associated with favourable neurological outcomes and requires aggressive resuscitation. However, in patients who required prolonged resuscitation, the outcomes of POHCA were not different from those of non-POHCA. The decision to perform prolonged resuscitation should be guided on a case-by-case basis based on a range of factors.