A preliminary study set to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2024 has found that out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the United States have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The research, which analyzed data from over 500,000 adults between 2015 and 2022, reveals the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency cardiac care.
Prior to the pandemic, the overall survival-to-hospital discharge rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests was nearly 10%. However, this rate dropped to 9% in 2020 and only marginally improved to 9.1% in 2021 and 2022, remaining significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The study also uncovered persistent disparities in survival rates among different communities, with Black and Hispanic areas experiencing lower survival rates compared to predominantly white communities.
Dr. Eric Hall, the study's lead author and cardiology fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center, emphasized the need for targeted efforts to improve survival rates, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities. The research indicates that the pandemic not only erased previous gains in cardiac arrest survival but also exacerbated existing disparities.
The findings have significant implications for public health policy and emergency medical services. Dr. Saket Girotra, the study's senior author, noted that additional research is underway to better understand the role of emergency medical services in cardiac arrest care and to identify best practices for treatment.
Experts suggest that factors such as delayed healthcare-seeking behavior during the pandemic and challenges in accessing healthcare post-pandemic may be contributing to the slow recovery in survival rates. Additionally, the increased incidence of overdose-associated cardiac arrests due to the rise in fentanyl use since 2019 may be complicating the interpretation of the data.
The study underscores the importance of community education and outreach to increase awareness of cardiac arrest and improve CPR skills among the general public. As the healthcare system continues to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic, these findings highlight the urgent need for renewed focus on improving cardiac arrest outcomes and addressing healthcare disparities in emergency cardiac care.
