Racial/ethnic differences in bystander CPR in Los Angeles, California

Bystander CPR (BCPR) has been demonstrated to improve rates of return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital admission, and quality of life in survivors. While previous studies have shown that African Americans are less likely to receive BCPR than Caucasians even after adjusting for variables such as socioeconomic status, BCPR rates in Latinos have not been reported.

To describe BCPR rates in an urban African American and Latino population as compared to Caucasians.

A retrospective analysis of the Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Evaluation in Los Angeles (CARE-LA) database combined with the California Death Statistical Master File (CDSMF). The combined database included location, race/ethnicity/ethnic background, witnessed status, socioeconomic status, and other variables that have previously been associated with differing rates of BCPR.

There were 814 individuals included in the final study group (53% Caucasian, 28% African American, 19% Latino). African Americans and Latinos were younger than the Caucasians, had more events in the home and had a bystander CPR rate of 13% compared to 24% for the Caucasians (OR=0.47 (95%CI: 0.30-0.74) for African Americans and OR=0.48 (95%CI:0.28-0.80) for the Latinos). Bystander CPR was found to be an independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge and, after adjustment, Latino ethnicity was associated with lower rates of bystander CPR (OR 0.45 (95%CI:0.22-0.92)).

After adjusting for other variables, Latinos in Los Angeles receive bystander CPR at approximately half the rate of Caucasians.