A new study published in Circulation reveals that while bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves survival rates for all individuals experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the benefits are not equally distributed across racial and gender lines. The research, conducted by Dr. Paul S. Chan and colleagues from Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, analyzed 623,342 nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests between 2013 and 2022.
The study found that bystander CPR was associated with higher survival rates across all racial and ethnic groups. However, the impact was most pronounced for White and Native American patients, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.33 and 1.40 respectively. In contrast, Black patients experienced the lowest improvement in survival odds with bystander CPR, showing an adjusted odds ratio of just 1.09.
Gender disparities were also evident, with men benefiting more from bystander CPR than women. The adjusted odds ratios for survival were 1.35 for men compared to 1.15 for women.
These disparities persisted across various neighborhood demographics and income levels, suggesting systemic issues in the quality or effectiveness of bystander CPR for certain groups.
The researchers noted, “Whether or not this result is because the quality of bystander CPR is lower in these two patient groups deserves further study to address disparities in care and ensure health care equity.”
This study highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving equitable health outcomes, even in emergency situations where immediate intervention can mean the difference between life and death. It underscores the need for further research and targeted interventions to improve the effectiveness of bystander CPR for all demographic groups.
See “Disparities in Improved Survival Linked to Bystander CPR” (August 9, 2024)
