Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in young adults in Melbourne, Australia

• Published in: Resuscitation 2011-07, Vol.82 (7), p.830-834
• Main Authors: Deasy, C, Bray, J.E, Smith, K, Harriss, L.R, Bernard, S.A, Cameron, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ambulance service; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac arrest registry; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - methods; Drug Overdose - complications; Drug Overdose - epidemiology; Emergency; Emergency and intensive cardiocirculatory care. Cardiogenic shock. Coronary intensive care; Emergency Medical Services - methods; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Out of hospital cardiac arrest; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - epidemiology; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - etiology; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - therapy; Retrospective Studies; Survival Rate - trends; Ventricular Fibrillation - complications; Ventricular Fibrillation - epidemiology; Victoria - epidemiology; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0300-9572; 1873-1570
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2011.03.008

Abstract Background Characteristics and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in young adults are not well described in Australia. Methods A 10-year retrospective case review of all OHCA in young adults (aged 16–39) and not witnessed by EMS, was performed using data from the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR). Results Between 2000 and 2009 there were 30,006 adult cardiac arrests of which 3912 (13%) were in this age group. The median (IQR) age was 30 (25–35) years for both sexes with a 3:1 male to female ratio. Overdose was the most common precipitant (33.5%) followed by presumed cardiac (20%). Bystander CPR occurred in 21.2%, EMS median response time was 7 min and resuscitation was attempted in 36% of OHCAs. The presenting rhythm was asystole in 84.6%, PEA in 8.8% and VF/VT in 6.6%. Survival to hospital discharge, for all cause OHCA where resuscitation was attempted, was similar for young adult and older adults (8.8% vs 8.4%, p = 0.2). However, for presumed cardiac aetiology OHCA, young adults had a greater proportion of survivors (14.8% vs 9.0%, p < 0.001). Cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm (VF/pulseless VT) had a survival rate of 31.2% for young adults compared to 18.5% for older adults ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Survival to hospital discharge rates from OHCA due to a ‘presumed cardiac’ precipitant in young adults is much better than older adults, however, all cause OHCA survival is similar. Multi agency novel upstream preventive strategies aimed at tackling drug overdose may reduce this aetiology of OHCA and save lives.