ORLANDO, Florida, Nov. 10, 2015 -- Bystander CPR on kids is increasing and is improving survival from cardiac arrest outside the hospital, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015.
Researchers analyzed 2,176 children (infants to age 18) with cardiac arrest, drawn from a key national registry of 22 million people representing 29 major cities in the United States. The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) registry tracks characteristics and impact of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Just under half (49 percent) of children who had a cardiac arrest between January 2013 and December 2014 received bystander CPR. This is higher than previous published reports from the United States. This was associated with an 11 percent likelihood of neurologically favorable survival compared to 7 percent for children who did not receive CPR from a bystander.
The majority of children in the study were infants (62 percent) or adolescents (19 percent). Eighty-six percent of cardiac arrests occurred at home, 75 percent were not witnessed and 93 percent had a non-shockable rhythm.
Most bystander CPR was performed by a family member. Bystander CPR was more common for white children (60 percent) than for African-American children (42 percent) and Hispanic children (44 percent).
Though infants represent the largest age group, bystander CPR had no effect on survival.
"This lack of impact on infants suggests the need for a public health strategy to improve the use of bystander CPR," said Maryam Naim, M.D., the study's lead author and assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania.
The CARES registry involves a number of organizations for funding and tracking including the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Emory University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and two device companies, Metronic and Zoll.
###
Co-authors are Rita V. Burke, M.P.H.; Brian F. McNally, M.D.; Robert A. Berg, M.D.; Kimberly Vellano, M.P.H.; David Markenson, M.D.; Richard Bradley, M.D.; and Joseph Rossano, M.D. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.
Additional Resources:
- Any available downloadable video/audio interviews, B-roll, animation and images related to this news release are on the right column of the release link at http://newsroom.heart.org/news/bystander-cpr-on-kids-has-increased-survival-odds-improve-for-some?preview=8ebb6a41fd85fd41b65bc64b0b45ab9f
- Spanish release: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/la-reanimacion-cardiopulmonar-rcp-a-ninos-por-parte-de-espectadores-mejora;-para-algunos-aumentan-las-probabilidades-de-supervivencia?preview=2564193e758c095d94c83b90e580e2b8
- Video clips with researchers/authors of the studies will be added to the release link after embargo.
- For more news from the AHA's Scientific Sessions 2015 follow us on Twitter @HeartNews #AHA15.
Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.
For Media Inquiries and AHA Spokesperson Perspective:
AHA News Media in Dallas: (214) 706-1173
AHA News Media Office, Nov. 7-11, 2015
at the Orange County Convention Center: (407) 685-5401
For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org
Life is why, science is how . . . we help people live longer, healthier lives.