Effect of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Sweden.
BACKGROUND
Information from the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry was used to investigate: (a) The proportion of patients suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who were given bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (B-CPR). (b) Where and by whom B-CPR was given. (c) The effect of B-CPR on survival.


METHODS
a prospective, observational study of cardiac arrests reported to the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry. Analyses were based on standardised reports of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from ambulance organisations in Sweden, serving 60% of the Swedish population. From 1983 to 1995 approximately 15-20% of the population had been trained in CPR.


RESULTS
Of 9877 patients, collected between January 1990 and May 1995, B-CPR was attempted in 36%. In 56% of these cases, the bystanders were lay persons and in 25% they were medical personnel. Most of the arrests took place at home (69%) and only 23% of these patients were given B-CPR in contrast to cardiac arrest in other places where 53% were given CPR. Survival to 1 month was significantly higher in all cases that received B-CPR (8.2 vs. 2.5%). The odds ratio for survival to 1 month with B-CPR was in a logistic regression analysis 2.5 (95% CI 1.9-3.1).


CONCLUSIONS
In Sweden, the willingness and ability to perform B-CPR appears to be relatively widespread. More than half of B-CPR was performed by laypersons. B-CPR resulted in a two to threefold increase in survival.
Holmberg
M
M
Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45, Göteborg, Sweden. mholmberg50@hotmail.com
Holmberg
S
S
Herlitz
J
J
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006282:Health Personnel; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology