Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading global cause of death.
• The COVID-19 pandemic potentially increased OHCA fatalities, with many cases initially suspected or diagnosed as COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OHCA incidence, survival rates, and community response.
• To analyze changes in emergency medical service (EMS) and bystander interventions during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted using terms like "heart arrest," "out-of-hospital cardiac arrest," "COVID-19," and "SARS-CoV-2" in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar.
• The review focused on observational studies published up to April 25, 2022.

Main Results:

• OHCA incidence and mortality rates saw a considerable increase during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous year.
• A twofold rise in OHCA incidence was observed, coupled with a decrease in survival rates.
• Community response to OHCA deteriorated, marked by reduced bystander CPR, prolonged EMS response times, and poorer survival outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected OHCA outcomes, necessitating improvements in emergency response systems.
• Enhancing the chain of survival and ensuring effective, qualified EMS are crucial for improving OHCA survivor outcomes.
• Limitations include the absence of centralized data collection and OHCA registry systems.