Global health and emergency care: a resuscitation research agenda--part 1

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Global Health
• Resuscitation Science

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease and trauma represent a significant global burden of disease.
• Current research investment in resuscitation science for these conditions is disproportionately low.
• International resuscitation research faces unique ethical and infrastructural challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the burden of disease and outcomes related to cardiac arrest and trauma.
• To identify key issues and global trends in resuscitation research.
• To highlight funding priorities and research needs in resuscitation science.

Main Methods:

• The content is derived from discussions at the 2013 Academic Emergency Medicine global health consensus conference.
• Focuses on synthesizing information regarding disease burden, research challenges, and funding trends.
• Literature review and expert consensus informed the identification of research priorities.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular disease and trauma impose a high burden of disease globally but receive inadequate research funding.
• Advancing resuscitation research necessitates reliable baseline statistics, data linkages, national databases, and sustainable infrastructure.
• Significant research gaps exist in understanding epidemiology, context, training, and cost-effective interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for increased global investment in resuscitation research for cardiovascular disease and trauma.
• Developing robust research infrastructure, addressing ethical considerations, and fostering international collaboration are essential.
• Future research should prioritize low-cost models, effective dissemination strategies, and evidence-based interventions to improve global resuscitation outcomes.