Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Use of Public Access Defibrillation Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: This meta-analysis presented the impact of pandemic Coronavirus disease-2019 on the use of the public access defibrillation (PAD) system for adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis and is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases until January 2024. Results: This meta-analysis included 30 analyzed studies. Pooled analysis showed that activation of PAD among those two periods varied and amounted to 3.8% vs. 3.9%, respectively [odds ratio (OR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66 to 0.89; p<0.001]. There were no statistically significant differences in defibrillation using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) when comparing the pandemic period with the pre-pandemic period (5.0% vs. 6.2%; OR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.07; p=0.12). Conclusion: The data indicate a substantial decrease in the activation of PAD during the pandemic. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant variations in the usage of shock using AEDs, suggesting that the use of AEDs remained similar to that in the pre-pandemic periods when they were available. It is essential to promote the usage of AEDs among bystanders and perform societal initiatives to achieve this objective.

Keywords

• automated external defibrillator
• aed
• public access defibrillation
• sars-cov-2
• covid-19
• pandemic