European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Observational Study
Out of hospital cardiac arrest in the Algarve region of Portugal: a retrospective registry trial with outcome data.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in Europe. An understanding of region-specific factors is essential for informing strategies to improve survival. ⋯ The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the Algarve was higher than in other jurisdictions while return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital discharge, and survival with good neurologic outcome were comparatively low. An aging population, a geographically diverse region, and a low incidence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation may have contributed to these outcomes. These results confirm the importance of early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early rhythm assessment, and early advanced life support, all of which are potentially modifiable through public education, broadening of the defibrillator network and increased availability of advanced life support teams.