Pittsburgh, Penn. – April 15, 2010
– Victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) who are treated with automated
external defibrillators (AEDs) by bystanders have a much greater chance of
survival than their counterparts, according to landmark research by the
Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, just published in the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology.
Researchers reviewed 13,769 cases of SCA occurring outside hospitals in
multiple sites in the U.S. and Canada. Using multivariate analysis, researchers
looked at potential confounding factors such as bystander CPR and time to EMS
arrival. An AED was used before arrival of emergency medical services (EMS)
personnel in 2.1 percent of cases. Survival in the overall group was 7 percent,
compared to 24 percent when an AED was applied before EMS arrival, and 38
percent when an AED shock was delivered before EMS arrival. Use of an AED
before EMS arrival increased the odds of survival by 80 percent.
“This is the first time a broad population was studied in this country,” said
principal investigator, Dr. Myron Weisfeldt, Director, Department of Medicine, Johns
Hopkins Medical Institutions. “This study shows in a dramatic way that the use
of AEDs by bystanders is a very potent indicator of survival.”
When study results were extrapolated to the entire population of the U.S. and
Canada, researchers found that 470 people are saved each year due to bystander
use of AEDs. “We are talking about nearly 500 people with families, said
Weisfeldt. “I think the impact is significant.”
“This study is the landmark research we have been waiting
for. It confirms the need for widespread deployment of AEDs, and the need for
the public to become familiar with their use,” said Mary Newman, President of
the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.
“This data also supports the efforts of organizations making efforts to advance
public education,” said Weisfeldt. “We need to get the message out that, ‘You
can do this. Sixth graders can do this. With AEDs, you have a real chance to
save a life.’”
In addition, the ROC study analyzed the type of bystander using the AED. The
best results occurred when AEDs were used by lay people, Weisfeldt said. The
second-best results occurred when AEDs were used by healthcare personnel, and
the worst results occurred when AEDs were used by police. The differences are
likely related to the location of arrest. People who are out in public places
generally are healthier than those in hospitals and nursing homes, where
healthcare personnel were generally responding. And police were generally
responding to victims at home, where victims are more likely to have had
unwitnessed SCA, longer time to treatment and, therefore, lower chance of
survival.
The study also found regional variation that likely reflected the adequacy of
deployment and EMS response times. In some sites, bystanders used AEDs 7
percent of the time. “What if all sites could achieve this level?,” Weisfeldt
mused, “How many more would survive?”
About Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden,
unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. It kills
approximately 250,000 people each year in the U.S. alone, more than from
colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS,
firearms, and house fires combined.
About the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Foundation
is a national non-profit 501(c)3
organization. Its mission is to serve as an information clearinghouse and
social marketing force focused on raising public awareness of sudden cardiac
arrest, and stimulating attitudinal and behavioral changes that will help save
more lives. For more information, visit http://www.sca-aware.org.
Connect with us!
Become our fan on Facebook: http://facebook.com/youcansavealife
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/youcansavealife
Join our Group on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com
– Search “You Can Save a Life”
SOURCE: Weisfeldt ML, Sitlani CM, Ornato JP, et al., on behalf of
the ROC Investigators. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010;55:1713-1720.
CONTACT:
Carissa B. Caramanis O’Brien
978-875-2020
carissa.obrien [at] sca-aware.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/carissao
| Documents | Size |
|---|---|
| Bystander_Use_of_AEDs.pdf | 167.33 KB |