Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival remains low post-pandemic: 5 study notes

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities, according to a study published March 12 in Resuscitation. 

Led by researchers from Dallas-based University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the study aimed to compare out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates from before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Here are five notes on the study results:

1. The researchers analyzed data from 506,419 patients found in the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival database from 30 states and selected communities in 16 additional states, according to a May 27 news release from UT Southwestern.
   
   
2. The pre-pandemic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate was 9.9% overall, 7.9% in majority Black and Hispanic communities, 10.7% in integrated communities and 11.1% in majority white communities.
   
   
3. In 2020, the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate decreased by 9% overall, by 16.5% among majority Black and Hispanic communities, by 8.1% among majority white communities and by 6.5% among integrated communities.
   
   
4. Between 2021 and 2022, there was no significant change in the overall out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate. Despite “modest improvement” found within majority Black and Hispanic communities, survival rates have continued to remain lower compared to integrated and majority white communities.
   
   
5. The 2020 decrease in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival may be partially attributable to drug overdoses, which continued to rise through 2022, the news release said. 

Read the full study here. 

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