[Epidemiology of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in « Basse-Normandie » according to RéAC registry]

Abstract

Objective: Identify from the RéAC registry, out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in Caen and it's suburbs, to study epidemiology and assess our medical practices.

Study design: Observational, prospective and monocentric study.

Patients and methods: From March 2012 to March 2013, we identified 151 patients. Demographic parameters, delays until treatment, drugs given and patient outcomes were analyzed from the RéAC data registry. Depending on the variable studied, the statistical analysis used Mann-Whitney or the Chi(2) tests.

Results: Twenty-two patients were excluded (no resuscitation attempt and patients who were transported to hospital with chest compressions only, in the absence of spontaneous circulation). One hundred and twenty-nine sudden cardiac arrests were analyzed: 107 (83%) with medical origin and 22 (17%) with traumatic origin. Direct witnesses were present for 94 (73%) of them. Basic life support actions were begun for 59 (46%) patients and a telephone advice was issued by the medical response team for 47 (36%) of them. After an advanced life support, 74 (57%) patients died on the spot. Of the 55 patients reaching the hospital alive, 39 (71%) died in the intensive care unit and 16 (29%) were discharged alive from hospital, of whom 14 (88%) with a favorable neurological outcome.

Conclusion: RéAC national registry has allowed us to analyze epidemiological data on out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests in our center. This register has also allowed us to highlight areas for improvement. They should be taken into account to improve our medical practices.

Keywords: Arrêt cardiaque extrahospitalier; Assessment of professional practices; Epidemiology; Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest; Épidémiologie; Évaluation des pratiques professionnelles.