title: Disparities in Survival with Bystander CPR following Cardiopulmonary Arrest Based on Neighborhood Characteristics.
abstract: The American Heart Association reports the annual incidence of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests (OHCA) is greater than 300,000 with a survival rate of 9.5%. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saves one life for every 30, with a 10% decrease in survival associated with every minute of delay in CPR initiation. Bystander CPR and training vary widely by region. We conducted a retrospective study of 320 persons who suffered OHCA in South Florida over 25 months. Increased survival, overall and with bystander CPR, was seen with increasing income (p = 0.05), with a stronger disparity between low- and high-income neighborhoods (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, resp.). Survival with bystander CPR was statistically greater in white- versus black-predominant neighborhoods (p = 0.04). Increased survival, overall and with bystander CPR, was seen with high- versus low-education neighborhoods (p = 0.03). Neighborhoods with more high school age persons displayed the lowest survival. We discovered a significant disparity in OHCA survival within neighborhoods of low-income, black-predominance, and low-education. Reduced survival was seen in neighborhoods with larger populations of high school students. This group is a potential target for training, and instruction can conceivably change survival outcomes in these neighborhoods, closing the gap, thus improving survival for all.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center of Excellence, Broward Health Medical Center, 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, USA.
authors.forename: Nina Thakkar
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0481-4792
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: George Washington University, 2121 1st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Shari L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Broward Health Medical Center, 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, USA.
authors.forename: Rohit K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Broward Health Medical Center, 1600 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, USA.
authors.forename: Sunil D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kumar