Incidence, treatment, and factors associated with survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attended by Spanish emergency services: report from the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry for 2022. / Incidencia, tratamiento y factores asociados con la supervivencia de la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria atendida por los servicios de emergencias en España: informe 2022 del registro OHSCAR.

SUMMARY: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a serious public health problem worldwide. The annual incidence is estimated at around 400 000 cases in Europe and the United States, and survival rates scarcely reach 10%. However, there is considerable variation between countries and even between regions that share a similar health care system within a single country. Information recorded by the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry (OHSCAR) provides information on care provided by emergency ambulance services, final health outcomes after cardiac arrest cases (including variations), the possibility of organ donation, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents the OHSCAR report for Spanish emergency services for the year 2022.

RESUMEN: La parada cardiorrespiratoria extrahospitalaria (PCREH) es un grave problema de salud pública mundial, con una incidencia anual estimada entorno a entorno a los 350.000 y 400.000 casos de PCERH en Europa y Estados Unidos, respectivamente. La supervivencia final se sitúa en porcentajes que apenas alcanzan el 10%, aunque existe una importante variabilidad entre países e incluso entre regiones del mismo país con modelos de atención similares. En España, el Registro Español de Parada Cardiaca Extrahospitalaria (acrónimo OHSCAR) ha ofrecido información sobre la asistencia a la PCRE prestada por los servicios de emergencias (SEM) y sus resultados finales en salud, así como sobre variabilidad, posibilidades de programas de donación o impacto de la pandemia COVID-19. A continuación se presenta el informe OHSCAR correspondiente a la asistencia a la PCRE por los SEM españoles durante el año 2022.

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) health care provision may be a good indicator of the recovery of the health care system involved in OHCA care following the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lack of data regarding outcomes capable of verifying this recovery. Objective: To determine whether return to spontaneous circulation, overall survival, and survival with good neurological outcome increased in patients with OHCA since the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control in 2022 compared with prepandemic and pandemic levels. Design, Setting, and Participants: This observational cohort study was conducted to examine health care response and survival with good neurological outcome at hospital discharge in patients treated following OHCA. A 3-month period, including the first wave of the pandemic (February 1 to April 30, 2020), was compared with 2 periods before (April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018) and after (January 1 to December 31, 2022) the pandemic. Data analysis was performed in July 2023. Emergency medical services (EMS) serving a population of more than 28 million inhabitants across 10 Spanish regions participated. Patients with OHCA were included if participating EMS initiated resuscitation or continued resuscitation initiated by a first responder. Exposure: The pandemic was considered to be under control following the official declaration that infection with SARS-CoV-2 was to be considered another acute respiratory infection. Main Outcome and Measures: The main outcomes were return of spontaneous circulation, overall survival, and survival at hospital discharge with good neurological outcome, expressed as unimpaired or minimally impaired cerebral performance. Results: A total of 14 732 patients (mean [SD] age, 64.2 [17.2] years; 10 451 [71.2%] male) were included, with 6372 OHCAs occurring during the prepandemic period, 1409 OHCAs during the pandemic period, and 6951 OHCAs during the postpandemic period. There was a higher incidence of OHCAs with a resuscitation attempt in the postpandemic period compared with the pandemic period (rate ratio, 4.93; 95% CI, 4.66-5.22; P < .001), with lower incidence of futile resuscitation for OHCAs (2.1 per 100 000 person-years vs 1.3 per 100 000 person-years; rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.71-0.92; P < .001). Recovery of spontaneous circulation at hospital admission increased from 20.5% in the pandemic period to 30.5% in the postpandemic period (relative risk [RR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; P < .001). In the same way, overall survival at discharge increased from 7.6% to 11.2% (RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.21-1.75; P < .001), with 6.6% of patients being discharged with good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category Scale categories 1-2) in the pandemic period compared with 9.6% of patients in the postpandemic period (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.10; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, survival with good neurological outcome at hospital discharge following OHCA increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epidemiology of severe trauma in Navarra for 10 years: out-of-hospital/ in-hospital deaths and survivors.

BACKGROUND: Major trauma is a leading cause of death. Due to the difficulties to keep a registry of these cases, few studies include all subjects, because they exclude out-of-hospital deaths. The purpose of this work was to compare the epidemiological profiles of out-of-hospital deaths, in-hospital deaths, and survivors over a 10-year period (2010-2019) of patients who had been treated by Navarre´s Health Service (Spain). METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study using data of patients injured by an external physical force of any intentionality and with a New Injury Severity Score above 15. Hangings, drownings, burns, and chokings were excluded. Intergroup differences of demographic and clinical variables were analysed using the Kruskal Wallis test, chi-squared test, or Fisher´s exact test. RESULTS: Data from 2,610 patients were analysed; 624 died out-of-hospital, 439 in-hospital, and 1,547 survived. Trauma incidences remained moderately stable over the 10-year period analysed, with a slight decrease in out-of-hospital deaths and a slight increase in in-hospital deaths. Patients of the out-of-hospital deaths group were younger (50.9 years) in comparison to in-hospital deaths and survivors. Death victims were predominantly male in all study groups. Intergroup differences regarding prior comorbidities and predominant type of injury were observed. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences among the three study groups. More than half of the deaths occur out-of-hospital and the causative mechanisms differ in each of them. Thus, when designing strategies, preventive measures were considered for each group on a case-by-case basis.

Brecha de género persistente en la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria en España durante el periodo 2013-2018 / Persistent gender gaps in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Spain from 2013 through 2018

Objetivos. Examinar las diferencias de género en las características de la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria (PCRE), los tratamientos, la supervivencia, y los cambios evolutivos en España. Método. Datos de dos series temporales (2013/2014 y 2017/2018) del registro prospectivo de PCRE (OHSCAR). Se incluyeron todos los casos consecutivos en los que intervino un equipo de emergencias. Las variables dependientes fueron las variables de atención de la PCRE, la llegada al hospital con pulso espontáneo, la supervivencia global al alta, y con buenos resultados neurológicos. El sexo fue la variable independiente. Resultados. Las mujeres fueron significativamente mayores, menos propensas a presentar una PCRE en lugar público, recibir desfibrilación externa automática, tener un ritmo inicial desfibrilable y ser atendidas por una ambulancia en menos de 15 minutos. Además, menos mujeres recibieron intervención coronaria percutánea o hipotermia al ingreso hospitalario. Tanto en 2013/2014 como en 2017/2018 las mujeres tuvieron menos probabilidades de supervivencia al ingreso hospitalario (OR = 0,52; p < 0,001; OR = 0,61; p = 0,009 respectivamente), y al alta hospitalaria (OR = 0,69; p = 0,001; OR = 0,72; p = 0,001, respectivamente) y con buenos resultados neurológicos (OR = 0,50; p < 0,001; OR = 0,63; p <0,001, respectivamente). Conclusiones. En ambos periodos las mujeres tuvieron menos probabilidades de sobrevivir y de hacerlo en buenas condiciones neurológicas. Estos resultados indican la necesidad de adoptar nuevos enfoques para abordar las diferencias de género en la PCRE. (AU)

Objective. To examine gender-related differences in the management and survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Spain during 2 time series. Methods. Analysis of data recorded in the prospective Spanish OHCA registry (OHSCAR in its Spanish acronym) for 2 time series (2013-2014 and 2017-2018). We included all 11036 consecutive cases in which an emergency team intervened. The dependent variables were arrival at the hospital after return of spontaneous circulation, overall survival to discharge, and overall survival with good neurological outcomes. Sex was the independent variable. We report descriptive statistics, patient group comparisons, and changes over time. Results.Women were significantly older and less likely to experience an OHCA in a public place, receive automatic external defibrillation, have a shockable heart rhythm, and be attended by an ambulance team within 15 minutes. In addition, fewer women underwent percutaneous coronary interventions or received treatment for hypothermia on admission to the hospital. In 2013-2014 and 2017-2018, respectively, the likelihood of survival was lower for women than men on admission (odds ratio [OR], 0.52 vs OR, 0.61; P < .001 and P = .009 in the 2 time series) and at discharge (OR, 0.69 vs 0.72 for men; P = .001 in both time series). Survival with good neurological outcomes was also less likely in women (OR, 0.50 vs 0.63; P < .001 in both series). Conclusions. The odds for survival and survival with good neurological outcomes were lower for women in nearly all patient groups in both time series. These findings suggest the need to adopt new approaches to address gender differences in OHCA. (AU)

Persistent gender gaps in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Spain from 2013 through 2018. / Brecha de género persistente en la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria en España durante el periodo 2013-2018.

OBJECTIVES: To examine gender-related differences in the management and survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Spain during 2 time series. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of data recorded in the prospective Spanish OHCA registry (OHSCAR in its Spanish acronym) for 2 time series (2013-2014 and 2017-2018). We included all 11 036 consecutive cases in which an emergency team intervened. The dependent variables were arrival at the hospital after return of spontaneous circulation, overall survival to discharge, and overall survival with good neurological outcomes. Sex was the independent variable. We report descriptive statistics, patient group comparisons, and changes over time. RESULTS: Women were significantly older and less likely to experience an OHCA in a public place, receive automatic external defibrillation, have a shockable heart rhythm, and be attended by an ambulance team within 15 minutes. In addition, fewer women underwent percutaneous coronary interventions or received treatment for hypothermia on admission to the hospital. In 2013-2014 and 2017-2018, respectively, the likelihood of survival was lower for women than men on admission (odds ratio [OR], 0.52 vs OR, 0.61; P .001 and P = .009 in the 2 time series) and at discharge (OR, 0.69 vs 0.72 for men; P = .001 in both time series). Survival with good neurological outcomes was also less likely in women (OR, 0.50 vs 0.63; P .001 in both series). CONCLUSION: The odds for survival and survival with good neurological outcomes were lower for women in nearly all patient groups in both time series. These findings suggest the need to adopt new approaches to address gender differences in OHCA.

OBJETIVO: Examinar las diferencias de género en las características de la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria (PCRE), los tratamientos, la supervivencia, y los cambios evolutivos en España. METODO: Datos de dos series temporales (2013/2014 y 2017/2018) del registro prospectivo de PCRE (OHSCAR). Se incluyeron todos los casos consecutivos en los que intervino un equipo de emergencias. Las variables dependientes fueron las variables de atención de la PCRE, la llegada al hospital con pulso espontáneo, la supervivencia global al alta, y con buenos resultados neurológicos. El sexo fue la variable independiente. RESULTADOS: Las mujeres fueron significativamente mayores, menos propensas a presentar una PCRE en lugar público, recibir desfibrilación externa automática, tener un ritmo inicial desfibrilable y ser atendidas por una ambulancia en menos de 15 minutos. Además, menos mujeres recibieron intervención coronaria percutánea o hipotermia al ingreso hospitalario. Tanto en 2013/2014 como en 2017/2018 las mujeres tuvieron menos probabilidades de supervivencia al ingreso hospitalario (OR = 0,52; p 0,001; OR = 0,61; p = 0,009 respectivamente), y al alta hospitalaria (OR = 0,69; p = 0,001; OR = 0,72; p = 0,001, respectivamente) y con buenos resultados neurológicos (OR = 0,50; p 0,001; OR = 0,63; p 0,001, respectivamente). CONCLUSIONES: En ambos periodos las mujeres tuvieron menos probabilidades de sobrevivir y de hacerlo en buenas condiciones neurológicas. Estos resultados indican la necesidad de adoptar nuevos enfoques para abordar las diferencias de género en la PCRE.

Variabilidad regional en incidencia, características generales y resultados finales de la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria en España: Registro OHSCAR / Regional variation in the incidence, general characteristics, and outcomes of prehospital cardiac arrest in Spain: the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry

OBJETIVOS: Existe gran variabilidad internacional en la incidencia y los resultados en la atención a la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria (PCRE). El objetivo es conocer si existe variabilidad en la incidencia, características y resultados en supervivencia en la atención a la PCRE por los servicios extrahospitalarios de emergencias (SEM) de España. MÉTODO: Análisis descriptivo, retrospectivo de los datos del registro OHSCAR correspondientes al periodo octubre2013-octubre 2014, que incluye pacientes atendidos por 19 SEM de España con intento de reanimación. Se recogieron los casos atendidos y variables clave sobre la asistencia a una PCRE: incidencia, características del paciente, del evento, de la actuación previa a los equipos de emergencias (EE), de la reanimación realizada, y de los principales tratamientos hospitalarios. Se comparó la situación neurológica al alta hospitalaria de los casos con ingreso hospitalario. RESULTADOS: La incidencia de casos con intento de reanimación y todas las características generales, salvo la distribución por sexo, presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los SEM participantes (p < 0,001). Hubo diferencias significativas en los tratamientos hospitalarios recibidos y en los resultados finales, tanto en la proporción de pacientes que llegaron con pulso espontáneo al hospital, 30,5%, rango entre 21,3% y 56,1% (p < 0,001), como en el porcentaje de altas hospitalaria con categoría 1 o 2 de la clasificación Cerebral Perfomance Categories (CPC), sobre el total de ingresados, 31,8%, rango entre 17,2% y 58,3% (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Existe una importante variabilidad entre los SEM españoles en la incidencia de casos con intento de reanimación, en todas las variables clave y en la supervivencia al alta hospitalaria de la atención a la PCRE

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The incidence and outcomes of care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary greatly from country to country. We aimed to study variation in the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of care for OHCAs given by Spanish prehospital emergency services. METHODS: Descriptive retrospective analysis of data from the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry (OHSCAR) from October 2013 to October 2014. Attempts by 19 Spanish emergency services to resuscitate patients were studied. All OHCA cases were reviewed to obtain the following data: incidence, patient and event characteristics, prior emergencies, resuscitation attempts, and the main treatments provided in the hospital. If a patient was admitted, we compared the neurologic status on hospital discharge. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected between emergency services (P< .0001) in the incidence of attempted resuscitation and all general characteristics except sex. Hospital treatments and outcomes also differed significantly: pulse had been restored on arrival of 30.5% of patients (range 21.3% to 56.1%, P< .001), and 31.8% of admitted patients were discharged in cerebral performance categories 1 or 2 (range 17.2% to58.3%,P< .001). CONCLUSION: Differences in the incidence of resuscitation attempts, key variables, and survival at discharge from the hospital are present in OHCA cases attended by prehospital emergency services in different regions of Spain

Regional variation in the incidence, general characteristics, and outcomes of prehospital cardiac arrest in Spain: the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry. / Variabilidad regional en incidencia, características generales y resultados finales de la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria en España: Registro OHSCAR.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence and outcomes of care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary greatly from country to country. We aimed to study variation in the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of care for OHCAs given by Spanish prehospital emergency services. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive retrospective analysis of data from the Out-of-Hospital Spanish Cardiac Arrest Registry (OHSCAR) from October 2013 to October 2014. Attempts by 19 Spanish emergency services to resuscitate patients were studied. All OHCA cases were reviewed to obtain the following data: incidence, patient and event characteristics, prior emergencies, resuscitation attempts, and the main treatments provided in the hospital. If a patient was admitted, we compared the neurologic status on hospital discharge. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected between emergency services (P .0001) in the incidence of attempted resuscitation and all general characteristics except sex. Hospital treatments and outcomes also differed significantly: pulse had been restored on arrival of 30.5% of patients (range 21.3% to 56.1%, P .001), and 31.8% of admitted patients were discharged in cerebral performance categories 1 or 2 (range 17.2% to 58.3%, P .001). CONCLUSION: Differences in the incidence of resuscitation attempts, key variables, and survival at discharge from the hospital are present in OHCA cases attended by prehospital emergency services in different regions of Spain.

OBJETIVO: Existe gran variabilidad internacional en la incidencia y los resultados en la atención a la parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria (PCRE). El objetivo es conocer si existe variabilidad en la incidencia, características y resultados en supervivencia en la atención a la PCRE por los servicios extrahospitalarios de emergencias (SEM) de España. METODO: Análisis descriptivo, retrospectivo de los datos del registro OHSCAR correspondientes al periodo octubre 2013-octubre 2014, que incluye pacientes atendidos por 19 SEM de España con intento de reanimación. Se recogieron los casos atendidos y variables clave sobre la asistencia a una PCRE: incidencia, características del paciente, del evento, de la actuación previa a los equipos de emergencias (EE), de la reanimación realizada, y de los principales tratamientos hospitalarios. Se comparó la situación neurológica al alta hospitalaria de los casos con ingreso hospitalario. RESULTADOS: La incidencia de casos con intento de reanimación y todas las características generales, salvo la distribución por sexo, presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los SEM participantes (p 0,001). Hubo diferencias significativas en los tratamientos hospitalarios recibidos y en los resultados finales, tanto en la proporción de pacientes que llegaron con pulso espontáneo al hospital, 30,5%, rango entre 21,3% y 56,1% (p 0,001), como en el porcentaje de altas hospitalaria con categoría 1 o 2 de la clasificación Cerebral Perfomance Categories (CPC), sobre el total de ingresados, 31,8%, rango entre 17,2% y 58,3% (p 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Existe una importante variabilidad entre los SEM españoles en la incidencia de casos con intento de reanimación, en todas las variables clave y en la supervivencia al alta hospitalaria de la atención a la PCRE.

El ozono no consigue la desinfección de los vehículos de emergencias de virus similares al SARS-CoV-2 / Ozone fails to disinfect emergency vehicles contaminated with viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2

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Influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A Spanish nationwide prospective cohort study.

AIMS: The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on attendance to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has only been described in city or regional settings. The impact of COVID-19 across an entire country with a high infection rate is yet to be explored. METHODS: The study uses data from 8629 cases recorded in two time-series (2017/2018 and 2020) of the Spanish national registry. Data from a non-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period (February 1st-April 30th 2020) were compared. During the COVID-19 period, data a further analysis comparing non-pandemic and pandemic weeks (defined according to the WHO declaration on March 11th, 2020) was conducted. The chi-squared analysis examined differences in OHCA attendance and other patient and resuscitation characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression examined survival likelihood to hospital admission and discharge. The multilevel analysis examined the differential effects of regional COVID-19 incidence on these same outcomes. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 period, the incidence of resuscitation attempts declined and survival to hospital admission (OR = 1.72; 95%CI = 1.46-2.04; p < 0.001) and discharge (OR = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.07-1.78; p = 0.013) fell compared to the non-COVID period. This pattern was also observed when comparing non-pandemic weeks and pandemic weeks. COVID-19 incidence impinged significantly upon outcomes regardless of regional variation, with low, medium, and high incidence regions equally affected. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic, irrespective of its incidence, seems to have particularly impeded the pre-hospital phase of OHCA care. Present findings call for the need to adapt out-of-hospital care for periods of serious infection risk. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN10437835.

Uncontrolled donation programs after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. An estimation of potential donors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of potential deceased organ donors from out-of- hospital cardiac arrest cases (OHCA) attended by public physician-led emergency medical services in Spain, based on data recorded in the nationwide Spanish OHCA Registry (OHSCAR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed OHSCAR data on deceased OHCA patients in Spain during 13 months (1/10/2013 to 31/10/2014). Variables included age, sex, estimated OHCA time, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) start time and outcome. Inclusion criteria were: age 16-60 years, witnessed OHCA, no return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and time interval <15min between OHCA occurrence and CPR initiation. RESULTS: Of a total 8789 cases, 3290 met the age criteria; of these, CPR was not witnessed in 745 cases. Among the remaining 2545 patients, 141 were included in uncontrolled donation after cardiac death (uDCD) programs, 902 arrived at the hospital with ROSC, 64 arrived with ongoing CPR and 15 cases were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 1423 without ROSC, CPR initiation time was not recorded in 454 cases and 398 did not meet the time criteria <15min between OHCA and CPR initiation. Finally, 571 met all the criteria and could have been potential donors. There were significant differences in the actual donors percentage from potential donors percentage between provinces with and without donor programs (141/322=43.8% versus 0/390=0%), but there were no differences in ROSC between the two types of provinces (418/1320=31.7% versus 652/1970=33.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Many potential donors are missed in current clinical practice. uDCD programs are few and underused even in a country with high rates of organ transplantation.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) attended by mobile emergency teams with a physician on board. Results of the Spanish OHCA Registry (OSHCAR).

Most survival outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are provided by emergency medical services (EMS) without a doctor on board. Our objective was to determine such outcomes in a whole country with public physician-led EMS. METHODS: We analyzed data from a nationwide prospective registry of OHCA cases attended by 19 public EMS in Spain, covering the period from 1-October 2013 to 30-October 2014. RESULTS: Advanced life support (ALS) was initiated in 9347 cases (incidence 18.6 cases/105 inhabitants per year). Resuscitation was considered futile in 558 cases (5.9%), and ALS was continued in 8789 cases (94.1%); mean age 63.5±17 years, 72.1% men. Initial rhythm was shockable in 22.1% of cases. Basic life support (BLS) was provided by bystanders in 1602 (24%) cases (635 of them with telephone assistance from the dispatch center). Of 8789 patients receiving ALS, 72.1% men, 2669 (30.4%) patients had return of spontaneous circulation on hospital arrival, 50.6% when the initial rhythm was shockable. Hospital discharge with good neurological status (CPC1-2) was found in 11.1% of the study population and in 27.6% when considering the Utstein comparator group of patients. A total of 216 (2.5%) patients arrived at the hospital with ongoing resuscitation, of whom only one survived with CPC1-2, and 165 (1.9%) patients were included in non-heart-beating donation programs. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain with physician-led EMS, OHCA survival with CPC1-2 reached a reasonable percentage despite only a modest contribution of bystander BLS. Ongoing resuscitation strategy seems to be futile except when considering non-heart beating donation programs.