One-year survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Copenhagen according to the 'Utstein style'.
OBJECTIVE
To determine survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) in Copenhagen, according to the Utstein recommendations, and compare this with other emergency medical services systems.


METHODS
Register-based cohort study.


METHODS
Copenhagen, population 465000, area 90 km(2).


METHODS
Consecutive group of patients with out-of-hospital CA occurring between January 1 1991 and December 31 1993, followed up via the hospital database systems.


METHODS
Two specially equipped advanced life support (ALS) units, staffed with an anaesthesiologist and a specially trained fireman, operating to support basic life support units.


RESULTS
Of 2225 patients who were unconscious without a pulse or breathing, 1461 were declared dead by the anaesthesiologist. Advanced cardiac life support was initiated in 764, 61 of which were of non-cardiac aetiology. The presumed aetiology was cardiac in 703: in 235 the event was unwitnessed, in 464 witnessed and in four the information was missing. Of 464 witnessed CA the initial rhythm was asystole in 72 cases, in 302 ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT), and in 90 were in other rhythms. In these subgroups discharged rates were 5 (7%), 62 (21%) and 1 (1%), and 1-year survival rates were 4 (6%), 49 (16%) and 1 (1%), respectively. The median ALS call-response interval was 6 min.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival after CA is more likely if the collapse was witnessed and in patients with VF/VT of cardiac aetiology.
Rewers
M
M
Copenhagen Mobile Intensive Care Unit (Kobenhavns Laegeambulance), Copenhagen Municipal Hospital, Oster Farimagsgade 3, DK-1399 K, Copenhagen, Denmark. mrewers@dadlnet.dk
Tilgreen
R E
RE
Crawford
M E
ME
Hjortsø
N
N
D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome