Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates lag pre-pandemic levels, racial disparities persist

Editor's Note

Survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have not returned to pre-pandemic levels and continue to reflect racial disparities, according to a preliminary study set for presentation at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024.

Analyzing data from over half a million U.S. adults who experienced OHCA between 2015 and 2022, researchers reported that pandemic-related declines in survival continue to linger, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities, according to a November 14 announcement from the association. Authors emphasized the need for targeted interventions to improve survival in communities with predominantly Black and Hispanic residents. Specific findings include:

• Between 2015 and 2019, overall OHCA survival rates averaged around 10%.
• Survival rates in Black and Hispanic communities were lower, at 8%, than  predominantly white communities, at over 11%.
• At the pandemic’s onset in 2020, survival rates fell sharply to 9% overall, with a more significant decrease in Black and Hispanic communities to 6.6%, a relative decrease of 16.5%.
• By 2022, survival rates showed minimal recovery, reaching only 9.1% overall.
• Despite slight improvements in Black and Hispanic communities, disparities remained, with a survival gap of 2.6% compared to predominantly white communities.

The association points to several factors complicating the recovery of OHCA survival rates. For example, pandemic-induced delays in seeking healthcare and increased overdose-related cardiac arrests—attributed to the rise of fentanyl in the illicit drug market since 2019—may contribute to lower survival rates. More community education on cardiac arrest and CPR training could bolster survival chances in emergencies.

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