Interv Akut Kardiol. 2024;23(2-3):85-89 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2024.022

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the Karlovy Vary Region in 2023: An Utstein-Style Report

Viktorie Šimečková^{1, 2}, Lýdie Klempová¹, Pavel Provazník¹, Václav Budín¹, Iveta Šejbová¹, Adam Gabriel¹, Michal Klapuch¹, Gustav Sosnovec¹, Jiří Smetana¹, Roman Sýkora^{1, 3, 4}, David Peřan^{1, 3, 5}

¹ Emergency Medical Services of the Karlovy Vary Region, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

² Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Kladno, Czech Republic

³ Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine and FNKV University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

⁴ Air Rescue Service and Emergency Medicine Department Pilsen-Line, Military Medical Agency, Czech Republic

⁵ Emergency Medical Services of Zlin Region, Zlin, Czech Republic

Introduction: The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the Karlovy Vary Region, serving over 295,000 residents, faces the critical challenge of managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA). Effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is essential for survival, requiring coordinated efforts from dispatch to first responders. This article analyses the quality of CPR in 2023 using the Utstein protocol, following an internal audit that introduced a feedback system to enhance outcomes.

Methods: This study retrospectively examines the 2023 Cardiac Arrest Registry of the Karlovy Vary Region using the 2024 Utstein template. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and verified with defibrillator and GPS records. The closed registry adheres to strict data protection standards, with reports presented anonymized.

Results: The primary outcome of OHCA, defined as survival to hospital admission, was 36 %. The secondary outcomes, defined as survival to discharge or 30 days, were 15.1 % with a good neurological outcome at discharge or 30 days (CPC 1 or 2) in 12.2 %.

Discussion: The results of this study indicate that the EMS of the Karlovy Vary Region is performing well in several areas, with outcomes that surpass the Czech Republic average reported in the EuReCa TWO and ONE studies, particularly in terms of survival rates and neurological outcomes. This suggests that the local methods for managing out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are effective and that improved coordination and quicker responses might be key contributing factors.

Conclusion: In 2023, the incidence of OHCA was 133 per 100,000 inhabitants, with a resuscitation rate of 43.9 %. Layperson CPR was frequently initiated. Survival to hospital admission was 36 %, while survival to discharge or 30 days was 15.1 %. A good neurological outcome was achieved in 12.2 % of cases.

Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Utstein protocol, epidemiology

Received: September 6, 2024; Accepted: November 18, 2024; Published: December 12, 2024  Show citation