Resuscitation
-
To determine whether initial cardiac arrest rhythm remains a prognostic determinant in longer term OHCA survival. ⋯ Patients with non-shockable (as opposed to shockable) initial arrest rhythms experienced higher mortality in the first 4-years following their OHCA; however, after four years the initial arrest rhythm ceased to be associated with survival.
-
To calculate and compare the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research investment for cardiac arrest (CA) to other leading causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in the United States (U.S.). ⋯ The NIH investment into CA research is far less than other comparable causes of death and disability in the U.S. These results should help inform utilization of limited resources to improve public health.
-
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is affected after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but data several years after the arrest are lacking. We assessed long-term HRQoL in OHCA survivors and how known outcome predictors impact HRQoL. ⋯ HRQoL five years after OHCA was good and mainly comparable to a matched reference population. Stratified analyses revealed impaired HRQoL among younger survivors and those awakening late, mainly for mental domains.
-
Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Airway Strategy and Chest Compression Quality in the Pragmatic Airway Resuscitation Trial.
Chest compression (CC) quality is associated with improved out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCA) outcomes. Airway management efforts may adversely influence CC quality. We sought to compare the effects of initial laryngeal tube (LT) and initial endotracheal intubation (ETI) airway management strategies upon chest compression fraction (CCF), rate and interruptions in the Pragmatic Airway Resuscitation Trial (PART). ⋯ In the PART trial, compared with ETI, LT was associated with shorter total CC interruption duration but not other CC quality measures. CC quality may be associated with OHCA airway management.
-
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to closures of non-essential businesses and buildings. The impact of such closures on automated external defibrillator (AED) accessibility compared to changes in foot traffic levels is unknown. ⋯ A majority of AEDs became inaccessible during the COVID-19 pandemic due to government-mandated closures. In a substantial number of locations across Canada, the reduction in AED accessibility was far greater than the reduction in foot traffic.