title: A randomized trial on elderly laypersons' CPR performance in a realistic cardiac arrest simulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is important for survival after cardiac arrest. We hypothesized that elderly laypersons would perform CPR poorer in a realistic cardiac arrest simulation, compared to a traditional test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four lay rescuers aged 50-75 were randomized to realistic or traditional test, both with ten minutes of telephone assisted CPR. Realistic simulation started suddenly without warning, leaving the test subject alone in a confined and noisy apartment. Traditional test was conducted in a spacious and calm classroom with a researcher present. CPR performance was recorded with a manikin with human like chest properties. Heart rate and self-reported exhaustion were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CPR quality was not different in the two groups: compression depth, 43 mm ± 7 versus 43 ± 4, P = 0.72; compressions rate, 97 min(-1) ± 11 versus 93 ± 15, P = 0.26; ventilation rate, 2.4 min(-1) ± 1.7 versus 2.8 ± 1.1, P = 0.35; and hands-off time 273 s ± 50 versus 270 ± 66, P = 0.82; in realistic (n = 31) and traditional (n = 33) groups, respectively. No fatigue was evident in the repeated measures analysis of variance. Work load was not different between the groups; attained percentage of age predicted maximum heart rate, 73% ± 9 and 76 ± 11, P = 0.37, reported exhaustion 43 ± 21 (scale: 0 to 100) and 37 ± 19, P = 0.24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly lay people are capable of performing chest compressions with acceptable quality for ten minutes in a realistic cardiac arrest simulation. Ventilation quality and hands-off time were not adequate in either group.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital HF, Norway. andres.neset@studmed.uio.no
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neset
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Birkenes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furunes
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Myklebust
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mykletun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odegaard
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Olasveengen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kramer-Johansen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016544:Patient Simulation; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone