Symptoms reported in calls to emergency medical services within 24 hours prior to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gnesin, Filip; Mills, Elisabeth Helen Anna; Jensen, Britta; Møller, Amalie Lykkemark; Zylyftari, Nertila; Bøggild, Henrik; Ringgren, Kristian Bundgaard; Kragholm, Kristian; Blomberg, Stig Nikolaj Fasmer; Christensen, Helle Collatz; Lippert, Freddy; Køber, Lars; Folke, Fredrik; Torp-Pedersen, Christian
• Is Part Of: Resuscitation. Volume 181(2022)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest -- Emergency medical services -- Epidemiology -- Public health; Resuscitation -- Periodicals; Resuscitation -- Periodicals; Réanimation -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.10.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-9572

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: There is limited evidence regarding prodromal symptoms of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We aimed to describe patient characteristics, prodromal symptoms, and prognosis of patients contacting emergency medical services (EMS) within 24 hours before OHCA. Methods: We identified all OHCA treated by Copenhagen EMS from 2016 through 2018 using the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry and linked them to emergency calls. We included all pre-arrest calls by patients or bystanders if they were performed 1) within 24 hours before the OHCA call or 2) during the OHCA event for EMS-witnessed OHCA. Calls were reviewed by healthcare professionals using a survey guide. Results: Among 4, 071 patients, 481 patients (12 %) had 539 calls within 24 hours prior to OHCA (60 % male, median age 74 years of age). The patient spoke on the phone in 25 % of calls. The most common symptoms were breathing problems (59 %), confusion (23 %), unconsciousness (20 %), chest pain (20 %), and paleness (19 %). Patients with breathing problems compared to chest pain were more likely to be ≤ 75 years of age (55 % versus 35 %), less likely to be male (52 % versus 73 %), have shockable rhythm (10 % versus 38 %), receive bystander defibrillation (6 % versus 19 %) or EMS defibrillation (15 % versus 65 %), achieve return of spontaneous circulation (37 % versus 68 %) and survive 30 days following OHCA (10 % versus 50 %). Conclusion: More than 10% of patients with OHCA had a call to EMS within 24 hours before OHCA. The most common symptom was breathing problems which compared to chest pain had lower 30-day survival.