Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Carinthia, Austria, in the year 2018

Abstract

Aims of the study: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with poor survival rates. Local data must be obtained to identify potential predictors of OHCA outcomes. For the Austrian State Carinthia, none such analysis has been performed so far.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all medical emergencies that were classified as cardiac arrest and occurred in the year 2018 in the Austrian State Carinthia was performed. Original protocols of air and ground rescue operations performed by the Air Rescue Austria and the Austrian Red Cross Carinthia were evaluated.

Results: A total of 441 OHCA cases were identified, of which 106 (24.0 %) resulted in return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 292 (66.2 %) in death preceded by CPR, and in 43 (9.7 %) of the patients transport with ongoing CPR was initiated. The median age of the patients was 75 years (interquartile range IQR: 64-86) and 37 % were female. The median arrival time of the advanced life support (ALS) team was 11 minutes (interquartile range (IQR) 7-16 minutes). In 47 % of all cases, bystander CPR was performed. Pre-hospital defibrillation (p = 0.002), younger age (p = 0.032), and shorter duration of CPR (p < 0.001) were associated with increased ROSC rates, while bystander CPR (p = 0.107), catecholamine use (p = 0.688), and shorter arrival times of the advanced life support team (p = 0.319) did not result in higher ROSC rates.

Conclusion: ROSC rates in OHCA patients in Carinthia are slightly below average compared to ROSC rates shown in large European registries. Pre-hospital defibrillation, younger age, and shorter duration of CPR contributed to a primarily positive outcome of OHCA.