Kristian Kragholm

Association of Bystander and First-Responder Intervention With Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in North Carolina, 2010-2013

IMPORTANCE Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is associated with low survival, but early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can improve outcomes if more widely adopted. OBJECTIVE To examine temporal changes in bystander and first-responder resuscitation efforts before arrival of the emergency medical services (EMS) following statewide initiatives to improve bystander and first-responder efforts in North Carolina from 2010-2013 and to examine the association between bystander and first-responder resuscitation efforts and survival and neurological outcome. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS We studied 4961 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest for whom resuscitation was attempted and who were identified through the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (2010-2013). First responders were dispatched police officers, firefighters, rescue squad, or life-saving crew trained to perform basic life support until arrival of the EMS. EXPOSURES Statewide initiatives to improve bystander and first-responder interventions included training members of the general population in CPR and in use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), training first responders in team-based CPR including AED use and high-performance CPR, and training dispatch centers in recognition of cardiac arrest. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The proportion of bystander and first-responder resuscitation efforts, including the combination of efforts between bystanders and first responders, from 2010 through 2013 and the association between these resuscitation efforts and survival and neurological outcome. RESULTS The combination of bystander CPR and first-responder defibrillation increased from 14.1% (51 of 362; 95% CI, 10.9%-18.1%) in 2010 to 23.1% (104 of 451; 95% CI, 19.4%-27.2%) in 2013 (P < .01). Survival with favorable neurological outcome increased from 7.1% (82 of 1149; 95% CI, 5.8%-8.8%) in 2010 to 9.7% (129 of 1334; 95% CI, 8.2%-11.4%) in 2013 (P = .02) and was associated with bystander-initiated CPR. Adjusting for age and sex, bystander and first-responder interventions were associated with higher survival to hospital discharge. Survival following EMS-initiated CPR and defibrillation was 15.2% (30 of 198; 95% CI, 10.8%-20.9%) compared with 33.6% (38 of 113; 95% CI, 25.5%-42.9%) following bystander-initiated CPR and defibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 3.12; 95% CI, 1.78-5.46); 24.2% (83 of 343; 95% CI, 20.0%-29.0%) following bystander CPR and first-responder defibrillation (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.06-2.71); and 25.2% (109 of 432; 95% CI, 21.4%-29.6%) following first-responder CPR and defibrillation (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.13-2.77). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Following a statewide educational intervention on rescusitation training, the proportion of patients receiving bystander-initiated CPR and defibrillation by first responders increased and was associated with greater likelihood of survival. Bystander-initiated CPR was associated with greater likelihood of survival with favorable neurological outcome.

Return to Work in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Nationwide Register-Based Follow-Up Study

Background— Data on long-term function of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors are sparse. We examined return to work as a proxy of preserved function without major neurologic deficits in survivors. Methods and Results— In Denmark, out-of-hospital cardiac arrests have been systematically reported to the Danish Cardiac Arrest Register since 2001. During 2001–2011, we identified 4354 patients employed before arrest among 12 332 working-age patients (18–65 years), of whom 796 survived to day 30. Among 796 survivors (median age, 53 years [quartile 1–3, 46–59 years]; 81.5% men), 610 (76.6%) returned to work in a median time of 4 months [quartile 1–3, 1–19 months], with a median time of 3 years spent back at work. A total of 74.6% (N=455) remained employed without using sick leave during the first 6 months after returning to work. This latter proportion of survivors returning to work increased over time (66.1% in 2001–2005 versus 78.1% in 2006–2011; P=0.002). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, factors associated with return to work with ≥6 months of sustainable employment were as follows: (1) arrest during 2006–2011 versus 2001–2005, hazard ratio (HR), 1.38 (95% CI, 1.05–1.82); (2) male sex, HR, 1.48 (95% CI, 1.06–2.07); (3) age of 18 to 49 versus 50 to 65 years, HR, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.02–1.68); (4) bystander-witnessed arrest, HR, 1.79 (95% CI, 1.17–2.76); and (5) bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, HR, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02–1.87). Conclusions— Of 30-day survivors employed before arrest, 76.6% returned to work. The percentage of survivors returning to work increased significantly, along with improved survival during 2001–2011, suggesting an increase in the proportion of survivors with preserved function over time.Background— Data on long-term function of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors are sparse. We examined return to work as a proxy of preserved function without major neurologic deficits in survivors. Methods and Results— In Denmark, out-of-hospital cardiac arrests have been systematically reported to the Danish Cardiac Arrest Register since 2001. During 2001–2011, we identified 4354 patients employed before arrest among 12 332 working-age patients (18–65 years), of whom 796 survived to day 30. Among 796 survivors (median age, 53 years [quartile 1–3, 46–59 years]; 81.5% men), 610 (76.6%) returned to work in a median time of 4 months [quartile 1–3, 1–19 months], with a median time of 3 years spent back at work. A total of 74.6% (N=455) remained employed without using sick leave during the first 6 months after returning to work. This latter proportion of survivors returning to work increased over time (66.1% in 2001–2005 versus 78.1% in 2006–2011; P =0.002). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, factors associated with return to work with ≥6 months of sustainable employment were as follows: (1) arrest during 2006–2011 versus 2001–2005, hazard ratio (HR), 1.38 (95% CI, 1.05–1.82); (2) male sex, HR, 1.48 (95% CI, 1.06–2.07); (3) age of 18 to 49 versus 50 to 65 years, HR, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.02–1.68); (4) bystander-witnessed arrest, HR, 1.79 (95% CI, 1.17–2.76); and (5) bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, HR, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.02–1.87). Conclusions— Of 30-day survivors employed before arrest, 76.6% returned to work. The percentage of survivors returning to work increased significantly, along with improved survival during 2001–2011, suggesting an increase in the proportion of survivors with preserved function over time. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-36}

Bystander Efforts and 1-Year Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND The effect of bystander interventions on long‐term functional outcomes among survivors of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest has not been extensively studied. METHODS We linked nationwide data on out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrests in Denmark to functional outcome data and reported the 1‐year risks of anoxic brain damage or nursing home admission and of death from any cause among patients who survived to day 30 after an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. We analyzed risks according to whether bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation was performed and evaluated temporal changes in bystander interventions and outcomes. RESULTS Among the 2855 patients who were 30‐day survivors of an out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest during the period from 2001 through 2012, a total of 10.5% had brain damage or were admitted to a nursing home and 9.7% died during the 1‐year follow‐up period. During the study period, among the 2084 patients who had cardiac arrests that were not witnessed by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, the rate of bystander CPR increased from 66.7% to 80.6% (P<0.001), the rate of bystander defibrillation increased from 2.1% to 16.8% (P<0.001), the rate of brain damage or nursing home admission decreased from 10.0% to 7.6% (P<0.001), and all‐cause mortality decreased from 18.0% to 7.9% (P=0.002). In adjusted analyses, bystander CPR was associated with a risk of brain damage or nursing home admission that was significantly lower than that associated with no bystander resuscitation (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.82), as well as a lower risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.99) and a lower risk of the composite end point of brain damage, nursing home admission, or death (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.84). The risks of these outcomes were even lower among patients who received bystander defibrillation as compared with no bystander resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS In our study, we found that bystander CPR and defibrillation were associated with risks of brain damage or nursing home admission and of death from any cause that were significantly lower than those associated with no bystander resuscitation. (Funded by TrygFonden and the Danish Heart Foundation.)

The role of bystanders, first responders, and emergency medical service providers in timely defibrillation and related outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Results from a statewide registry

AIM Defibrillation by bystanders and first responders has been associated with increased survival, but limited data are available from non-metropolitan areas. We examined time from 911-call to defibrillation (according to who defibrillated patients) and survival in North Carolina. METHODS Through the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, we identified 1732 defibrillated out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from counties with complete case capture (population 2.7 million) from 2010 to 2013. RESULTS Most patients (60.9%) were defibrillated in > 10 min. A minority (8.0%) was defibrillated < 5 min; most of these patients were defibrillated by first responders (51.8%) and bystanders (33.1%), independent of location of arrest (residential or public). Bystanders initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in 49.0% of cases and defibrillated 13.4% of those. Survival decreased with increasing time to defibrillation (< 2 min: 59.1%; 2 to < 5 min: 38.5%; 5-10 min: 33.1%; > 10 min: 13.2%). Odds of survival with favorable neurologic outcome adjusted for age, sex, and bystander CPR improved with faster defibrillation (<2 min: OR 7.73 [95% CI 3.19-18.73]; 2 to < 5 min: 3.78 [2.45-5.84]; 5-10 min: 3.16 [2.42-4.12]; > 10 min: reference). CONCLUSION Bystanders and first responders were mainly responsible for defibrillation within 5 min, independent of location of arrest. Bystanders initiated CPR in half of the cardiac arrest cases but only defibrillated a minority of those. Timely defibrillation and defibrillation by bystanders and/or first responders were strongly associated with increased survival. Strategic efforts to increase bystander and first-responder defibrillation are warranted to increase survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in children and adolescents: Incidences, outcomes, and household socioeconomic status

BACKGROUND There is insufficient knowledge of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the very young. OBJECTIVES This nationwide study sought to examine age-stratified OHCA characteristics and the role of parental socioeconomic differences and its contribution to mortality in the young population. METHODS All OHCA patients in Denmark, ≤21 years of age, were identified from 2001 to 2010. The population was divided into infants (<1 year); pre-school children (1-5 years); school children (6-15 years); and high school adolescents/young adults (16-21 years). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate associations between pre-hospital factors and study endpoints: return of spontaneous circulation and survival. RESULTS A total of 459 individuals were included. Overall incidence of OHCA was 3.3 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The incidence rates for infants, pre-school children, school children and high school adolescents were 11.5, 3.5, 1.3 and 5.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Overall bystander CPR rate was 48.8%, and for age groups: 55.4%, 41.2%, 44.9% and 63.0%, respectively. Overall 30-day survival rate was 8.1%, and for age groups: 1.4%, 4.5%, 16.1% and 9.3%, respectively. High parental education was associated with improved survival after OHCA (OR 3.48, CI 1.27-9.41). Significant crude difference in survival (OR 3.18, CI 1.22-8.34) between high household incomes vs. low household incomes was found. CONCLUSION OHCA incidences and survival rates varied significantly between age groups. High parental education was found to be associated with improved survival after OHCA.

Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Relation to Age and Early Identification of Patients With Minimal Chance of Long-Term Survival

Background— Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has increased during the last decade in Denmark. We aimed to study the impact of age on changes in survival and whether it was possible to identify patients with minimal chance of 30-day survival. Methods and Results— Using data from the nationwide Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry (2001─2011), we identified 21 480 patients ≥18 years old with a presumed cardiac-caused out-of-hospital cardiac arrest for which resuscitation was attempted. Patients were divided into 3 preselected age-groups: working-age patients 18 to 65 years of age (33.7%), early senior patients 66 to 80 years of age (41.5%), and late senior patients >80 years of age (24.8%). Characteristics in working-age patients, early senior patients, and late senior patients were as follows: witnessed arrest in 53.8%, 51.1%, and 52.1%; bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 44.7%, 30.3%, and 23.4%; and prehospital shock from a defibrillator in 54.7%, 45.0%, and 33.8% (all P<0.05). Between 2001 and 2011, return of spontaneous circulation on hospital arrival increased: working-age patients, from 12.1% to 34.6%; early senior patients, from 6.4% to 21.5%; and late senior patients, from 4.0% to 15.0% (all P<0.001). Furthermore, 30-day survival increased: working-age patients, 5.8% to 22.0% (P<0.001); and early senior patients, 2.7% to 8.4% (P<0.001), whereas late senior patients experienced only a minor increase (1.5% to 2.0%; P=0.01). Overall, 3 of 9499 patients achieved 30-day survival if they met 2 criteria: had not achieved return of spontaneous circulation on hospital arrival and had not received a prehospital shock from a defibrillator. Conclusions— All age groups experienced a large temporal increase in survival on hospital arrival, but the increase in 30-day survival was most prominent in the young. With the use of only 2 criteria, it was possible to identify patients with a minimal chance of 30-day survival.

Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in relation to sex: A nationwide registry-based study☆

AIM Crude survival has increased following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We aimed to study sex-related differences in patient characteristics and survival during a 10-year study period. METHODS Patients≥12 years old with OHCA of a presumed cardiac cause, and in whom resuscitation was attempted, were identified through the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry 2001-2010. A total of 19,372 patients were included. RESULTS One-third were female, with a median age of 75 years (IQR 65-83). Compared to females, males were five years younger; and less likely to have severe comorbidities, e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (12.8% vs. 16.5%); but more likely to have arrest outside of the home (29.4% vs. 18.7%), receive bystander CPR (32.9% vs. 25.9%), and have a shockable rhythm (32.6% vs. 17.2%), all p<0.001. Thirty-day crude survival increased in males (3.0% in 2001 to 12.9% in 2010); and in females (4.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2010), p<0.001. Multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for patient characteristics including comorbidities, showed no survival difference between sexes in patients with a non-shockable rhythm (OR 1.00; CI 0.72-1.40), while female sex was positively associated with survival in patients with a shockable rhythm (OR 1.31; CI 1.07-1.59). Analyses were rhythm-stratified due to interaction between sex and heart rhythm; there was no interaction between sex and calendar-year. CONCLUSIONS Temporal increase in crude survival was more marked in males due to poorer prognostic characteristics in females with a lower proportion of shockable rhythm. In an adjusted model, female sex was positively associated with survival in patients with a shockable rhythm.

Association of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Survival According to Ambulance Response Times after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases patient survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but it is unknown to what degree bystander CPR remains positively associated with survival with increasing time to potential defibrillation. The main objective was to examine the association of bystander CPR with survival as time to advanced treatment increases. Methods: We studied 7623 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients between 2005 and 2011, identified through the nationwide Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between time from 911 call to emergency medical service arrival (response time) and survival according to whether bystander CPR was provided (yes or no). Reported are 30-day survival chances with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Results: With increasing response times, adjusted 30-day survival chances decreased for both patients with bystander CPR and those without. However, the contrast between the survival chances of patients with versus without bystander CPR increased over time: within 5 minutes, 30-day survival was 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.8–16.4) versus 6.3% (95% CI: 5.1–7.6), corresponding to 2.3 times higher chances of survival associated with bystander CPR; within 10 minutes, 30-day survival chances were 6.7% (95% CI: 5.4–8.1) versus 2.2% (95% CI: 1.5–3.1), corresponding to 3.0 times higher chances of 30-day survival associated with bystander CPR. The contrast in 30-day survival became statistically insignificant when response time was >13 minutes (bystander CPR vs no bystander CPR: 3.7% [95% CI: 2.2–5.4] vs 1.5% [95% CI: 0.6–2.7]), but 30-day survival was still 2.5 times higher associated with bystander CPR. Based on the model and Danish out-of-hospital cardiac arrest statistics, an additional 233 patients could potentially be saved annually if response time was reduced from 10 to 5 minutes and 119 patients if response time was reduced from 7 (the median response time in this study) to 5 minutes. Conclusions: The absolute survival associated with bystander CPR declined rapidly with time. Yet bystander CPR while waiting for an ambulance was associated with a more than doubling of 30-day survival even in case of long ambulance response time. Decreasing ambulance response time by even a few minutes could potentially lead to many additional lives saved every year.

Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest ☆

AIM It is unclear whether prolonged resuscitation can result in successful outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). We assessed associations between duration of pre-hospital resuscitation on survival and functional outcome following OHCA in patients achieving pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). METHODS We included 1316 adult OHCA individuals with pre-hospital ROSC (2005-2011) handled by the largest nationwide ambulance provider in Denmark. Patients were stratified into 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25 and >25min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by emergency medical services until ROSC was achieved. Nursing home admission and diagnosis of anoxic brain damage were measured as proxies of poor neurological/functional outcomes. FINDINGS Median time from CPR initiation to ROSC was 12min (IQR: 7-18) while 20.4% achieved ROSC after >25min. Overall, 37.5% (494) of the study population achieved 30-day survival. Thirty-day survival was inversely related to minutes of CPR to ROSC: ranging from 59.6% (127/213) for ≤5min to 13.8% (19/138) for >25min. If bystander initiated CPR before ambulance arrival, corresponding values ranged from 70.4% (107/152) to 21.8% (12/55). Of 30-day survivors, patients discharged to own home rather than nursing home ranged from 95.0% (124/127) to 84.7% (18/19), respectively. Of 30-day survivors, patients discharged without diagnosis of anoxic brain damage ranged from 98.4% (125/127) to 73.7% (14/19) for corresponding intervals. CONCLUSION Even those requiring prolonged resuscitation duration prior to ROSC had meaningful survival rates with the majority of survivors able to return to live in own homes. These data suggest that prolonged resuscitation is not futile.

Sex-Stratified Trends in Enrollment, Patient Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes Among Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Insights From Clinical Trials Over 17 Years

Background—Adequate representation by sex in trials allows generalizability of results. We examined representation of women in clinical trials during a 17-year period in which inclusion criteria were broadened and federal mandates for representativeness were launched. Methods and Results—Using mixed models, we studied sex-stratified temporal trends in enrollment, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes among 76 148 non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients using patient-level data merged from 11 phase III trials conducted from 1994 to 2010. Overall, 33.3% of patients were women, which changed minimally over time. Women were consistently 4 to 5 years older than men (median age 68 [interquartile range 61–75] versus 64 [interquartile range 56–72] years) and more frequently had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart failure; men more frequently had prior myocardial infarction and revascularization. GRACE risk scores increased over time for both sexes with the inclusion of older patients with more comorbidities. Use of percutaneous coronary intervention, in-hospital and discharge angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers, &bgr;-blockers, and lipid-lowering drugs also increased among both sexes. Kaplan–Meier estimates of 6-month mortality declined from 7.0% [95% confidence interval 6.5%–7.6%] to 4.5% [95% confidence interval 4.0%–5.0%] among women and 6.3% [95% confidence interval 6.0%–6.7%] to 3.1% [95% confidence interval 2.9%–3.4%] among men during the 17-year period. Conclusions—The relative proportion of women in non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome trials changed minimally over time. Nevertheless, in parallel with men, use of evidence-based care and outcomes improved significantly over time among women.