Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest research progress and challenges in Lithuania

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Data Science

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) research presents unique challenges due to the condition's urgency and complex ethical considerations.
• Effective data collection is crucial for improving OHCA outcomes and advancing research in emergency medical services (EMS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the progression of OHCA data collection and analysis methodologies in Kaunas, Lithuania.
• To identify and address the challenges encountered during the establishment of an OHCA research database.

Main Methods:

• Data collection commenced in 2016, adhering to the Utstein 2014 template, with early adoption of electronic submissions by Kaunas EMS.
• Transition to electronic health records in the tertiary university hospital in 2017 enhanced data accessibility.
• Development of an expanded Excel data table into a dedicated "resuscitation registry form" operational since 2020.

Main Results:

• Collected data facilitated multiple observational studies aimed at identifying factors to improve patient outcomes.
• Process efficiencies were continuously sought, leading to the creation of a structured resuscitation registry.

Conclusions:

• OHCA research is inherently difficult, complicated by legal, ethical, and data integration issues between EMS and hospital systems.
• The study underscores the need for a comprehensive framework to overcome these challenges and aims to establish a nationally recognized OHCA registry.