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. 2018 May:126:49-57.
doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.02.029. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Australia and New Zealand: Results from the Aus-ROC Epistry

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Free article

Regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Australia and New Zealand: Results from the Aus-ROC Epistry

Ben Beck et al. Resuscitation. 2018 May.
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of OHCA using data from the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry over the period of 01 January 2015-31 December 2015. Seven ambulance services contributed data to the Epistry with a capture population of 19.8 million people. All OHCA attended by ambulance, regardless of aetiology or patient age, were included.

Results: In 2015, there were 19,722 OHCA cases recorded in the Aus-ROC Epistry with an overall crude incidence of 102.5 cases per 100,000 population (range: 51.0-107.7 per 100,000 population). Of all OHCA cases attended by EMS (excluding EMS-witnessed cases), bystander CPR was performed in 41% of cases (range: 36%-50%). Resuscitation was attempted (by EMS) in 48% of cases (range: 40%-68%). The crude incidence for attempted resuscitation cases was 47.6 per 100,000 population (range: 34.7-54.1 per 100,000 population). Of cases with attempted resuscitation, 28% survived the event (range: 21%-36%) and 12% survived to hospital discharge or 30 days (range: 9%-17%; data provided by five ambulance services).

Conclusion: In the first results of the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry, significant regional variation in the incidence, characteristics and outcomes was observed. Understanding the system-level and public health drivers of this variation will assist in optimisation of the chain of survival provided to OHCA patients with the aim of improving outcomes.

Keywords: Emergency medical service; Epidemiology; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Registry.

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