Regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Australia and New Zealand: Results from the Aus-ROC Epistry

• Published in: Resuscitation Vol. 126; pp. 49 - 57
• Main Authors: Beck, Ben, Bray, Janet, Cameron, Peter, Smith, Karen, Walker, Tony, Grantham, Hugh, Hein, Cindy, Thorrowgood, Melanie, Smith, Anthony, Inoue, Madoka, Smith, Tony, Dicker, Bridget, Swain, Andy, Bosley, Emma, Pemberton, Katherine, McKay, Michael, Johnston-Leek, Malcolm, Perkins, Gavin D., Nichol, Graham, Finn, Judith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-05-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia - epidemiology; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - statistics & numerical data; Cohort Studies; Emergency medical service; Emergency Medical Services - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; New Zealand - epidemiology; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - epidemiology; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - mortality; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Population Surveillance; Registries; Registry; New Zealand; Australia; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Emergency medical service; Registry; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0300-9572; 1873-1570
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.02.029

The aim of this study was to investigate regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Australia and New Zealand.
This was a population-based cohort study of OHCA using data from the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry over the period of 01 January 2015–31 December 2015. Seven ambulance services contributed data to the Epistry with a capture population of 19.8 million people. All OHCA attended by ambulance, regardless of aetiology or patient age, were included.
In 2015, there were 19,722 OHCA cases recorded in the Aus-ROC Epistry with an overall crude incidence of 102.5 cases per 100,000 population (range: 51.0–107.7 per 100,000 population). Of all OHCA cases attended by EMS (excluding EMS-witnessed cases), bystander CPR was performed in 41% of cases (range: 36%–50%). Resuscitation was attempted (by EMS) in 48% of cases (range: 40%–68%). The crude incidence for attempted resuscitation cases was 47.6 per 100,000 population (range: 34.7–54.1 per 100,000 population). Of cases with attempted resuscitation, 28% survived the event (range: 21%–36%) and 12% survived to hospital discharge or 30 days (range: 9%–17%; data provided by five ambulance services).
In the first results of the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry, significant regional variation in the incidence, characteristics and outcomes was observed. Understanding the system-level and public health drivers of this variation will assist in optimisation of the chain of survival provided to OHCA patients with the aim of improving outcomes.