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Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Portugal - A Call for a Registry Project
Pedro Caldeira1, Isabel Rabiais1, Luís Ladeira2
1Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Open Access Emergency Medicine : OAEM
|March 27, 2026
Summary
Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rates in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) were only 26% in Portugal, significantly lower than European averages. Increasing bystander CPR is crucial for improving survival rates from OHCA.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Sudden Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is a major cause of death in Europe.
- Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders can significantly increase survival rates.
- Previous studies in Portugal focused only on islands, not providing nationwide data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the national situation regarding OHCA survival and bystander CPR in Portugal.
- To provide comprehensive nationwide OHCA data for the first time.
- To identify gaps in the chain of survival for OHCA patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study was conducted from September 1 to November 30, 2022.
- Data from all Emergency Medical Services-attended OHCA cases were collected.
- Utstein-style guidelines were applied for standardized data reporting.
Main Results:
- A total of 4769 OHCA cases were recorded.
- Bystander CPR was performed in 26% of witnessed cases (555 out of 2128).
- Survival with Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) was 5% among witnessed OHCAs.
Conclusions:
- The bystander CPR rate of 26% is significantly lower than European averages (48-58%).
- Bystander CPR demonstrated a significant positive impact on ROSC (p<0.001).
- Regional differences highlight the need for nationwide implementation of European Resuscitation Council recommendations to boost bystander CPR.
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