Influence of summer tourist flows on occurrence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an Italian tourist-intensive area. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tammaro, Gaetano; Picconi, Enzo; Scardia, Maurizio; Scardia, Stefano; Sabetta, Cesare; Antonaci, Daniele; Ruggeri, Domenica Rita; Tortorolo, Luca
• Is Part Of: International emergency nursing. Volume 52(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: OHCA Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest -- EMS Emergency Medical Service -- LE-EMS Emergency medical service of Lecce -- EFR Emergency First Responders -- AEDs Automated External Defibrillators -- AMPDS Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System -- CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- IQR interquartile range -- SD standard deviation; Emergency Medical Services -- Prehospital Emergency Care -- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest -- Seasonal variation -- Epidemiology -- Chronobiology; Emergency nursing -- Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2020.100893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-599X

Abstract

Highlights: A circannual variability in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) frequency is reported. Seasonal tourist flows could determine a variation of incidence and outcome of OHCA. Despite seasonal doublings of population, no variation in occurrence of OHCA was found. Seasonal enhancement of EMS may contribute to maintain the performance of care. Abstract: Introduction: The study aims to evaluate the seasonal variation of out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a tourist-intensive area. Methods: Data of all OHCA treated by the Emergency Medical Service of Lecce (LE-EMS), Italy, between 2013 and 2017, were retrospectively analyzed and complemented with information about tourist flows, in order to determine the influence of the seasonal variation of population on incidence and outcome. Results: Tourist arrivals were around 1, 700, 000 per year, mostly in summer, adding up to 803, 161 residents. The occurrence of OHCA did not show a monthly variation when referring to the resident population (p = 0.90). When taking into account the tourist flows, a difference in occurrence of OHCA across months was found, with the highest rate of arrests in December and the lowest in August (10.3 vs 3.4 per 100, 000 persons, p < 0.01). No difference was found in terms of EMS arrival time and event survival rate between summer and the rest of the year (13.6 vs 13.8 min, p = 0.55, and 4.4% vs 4.5%, p = 0.86, respectively). Conclusion: In summer tourism areas, the occurrence of OHCA is unchanged throughout the year, while the actual population presents seasonal increases. Summer enhancement of provincial EMS may contribute to maintain the performance of emergency care.