There is a difference in characteristics and outcome between women and men who suffer out of hospital cardiac arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether there is a difference in characteristics and outcome in relation to gender among patients who suffer out of hospital cardiac arrest.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
The community of Göteborg.


METHODS
All patients in the community of Göteborg who suffered out of hospital cardiac arrest between 1980 and 1996, and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated.


METHODS
Factors at resuscitation and the proportion of patients being hospitalized and discharged from hospital. P values were corrected for age.


RESULTS
The women were older than the men (median of 73 vs. 69 years; P < 0.0001), they received bystander-CPR less frequently (11 vs. 15%; P = 0.003), they were found in ongoing ventricular fibrillation less frequently (28 vs. 44%; P < 0.0001), and their arrests were judged to be of cardiac origin less frequently. In a multivariate analysis considering age, gender, arrest being due to a cardiac etiology, initial arrhythmia and by-stander initiated CPR, female gender appeared as an independent predictor for patients being brought to hospital alive (odds ratio 1.37; P = 0.001) but not for patients being discharged from hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients who suffer out of hospital cardiac arrest with attempted CPR women differ from men being older, receive bystander CPR less frequently, have a cardiac etiology less frequently and are found in ventricular fibrillation less frequently. Finally female gender is associated with an increased chance of arriving at hospital alive.
Perers
E
E
Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Abrahamsson
P
P
Bång
A
A
Engdahl
J
J
Lindqvist
J
J
Karlson
B W
BW
Waagstein
L
L
Herlitz
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome