Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Cardiac Arrest and Emergency Care

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare systems globally.
• Cardiac arrest incidence and outcomes are critical indicators of healthcare system stress and public health.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the pandemic's specific effects on cardiac arrest events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify factors contributing to changes in cardiac arrest events and patient survival.
• To inform strategies for mitigating the impact of future pandemics on cardiovascular emergencies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of cardiac arrest data.
• Comparison of cardiac arrest incidence and survival rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with changes in outcomes.

Main Results:

• A notable increase in both OHCA and IHCA incidence was observed during the pandemic.
• Patient survival rates and neurologic outcomes following cardiac arrest significantly decreased.
• Both direct viral effects and indirect pandemic-related factors (e.g., healthcare system strain, behavioral changes) were implicated.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected cardiac arrest incidence and patient survival.
• Interventions addressing both direct illness and indirect systemic effects are necessary.
• Improved preparedness for future public health crises is essential to protect patients experiencing cardiac arrest.