Seasonal variations in out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest

Pell, J., Sirel, J., Marsden, A. and Cobbe, S. (1999) Seasonal variations in out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Heart, 82(6), pp. 680-683.

Abstract

Objective-To determine whether there are seasonal variations in survival following out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Design-Prospective cohort study using the Heartstart (Scotland) database. Setting-All of Scotland. Patients-10 890 people who suffered out of hospital cardiopulmonary arrest in the summer or winter between December 1988 and August 1997 inclusive. Intervention-Univariate comparisons of 5406 arrests occurring in summer with 5484 in winter, in terms of patient characteristics, management, and survival using chi(2) and Mann-Whitney U tests, Multivariate analysis of the association between season and survival following adjustment for case mix. Main outcomes measures-Survival to discharge from hospital, survival preadmission, in-hospital survival. Results-Only 6% of people who arrested in winter survived to discharge, compared to 8% of those who arrested in summer (odds ratio 0.77, p < 0.001). People who arrested in winter had a poorer risk profile in that they were older, more Likely to arrest at home, less Likely to have a witness, and less Likely to receive defibrillation. However, after adjustment for case mix, people who arrested in winter were still 19% less likely to survive compared to those who arrested in summer. Deaths pre-admission were significantly higher in winter (odds ratio 1.18, p < 0.05) but in-hospital deaths were not. Conclusions-People who suffer cardiopulmonary arrest in winter have a significantly lower likelihood of surviving. This is, in part, caused by the higher frequency of a number of recognised risk factors. However, their prognosis remains poorer even after adjustment for these factors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pell, Professor Jill and Cobbe, Professor Stuart
• Authors: Pell, J., Sirel, J., Marsden, A., and Cobbe, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Health and Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences
• Journal Name: Heart
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 1355-6037