Comparing Non-Traumatic Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest during the First COVID-19 Wave and the Same Period in Previous Year at Prehospital Emergency Care

Abstract

Background and purpose: COVID-19 pandemic has affected different aspects of the health care system, including the outcomes of cardiac arrest. The purpose of this study was to compare out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) during the first COVID-19 wave and the pre-COVID-19 time in Qom prehospital emergency care, Iran. Materials and methods: In a retrospective descriptive study, we compared the data of patients with OHCA who were registered in the Qom prehospital emergency care, during the first wave of COVID-19 (from 20 February to 3 April 2020) and the same period in 2018. The independent t-test was applied to analyze quantitative demographic data and Chi-square test was used to compare qualitative data and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and its outcomes. Results: The incidence of OHCA was higher during COVID-19 pandemic than that in the same period in 2018 (248 cases vs. 189 cases). The incidence of cardiac arrest at home was also found to be significantly different between the two times (93.5% vs. 70.9%, P<0.001). The study also showed significant differences between the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-COVID-19 period in the following parameters: return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (6.9% vs. 17.5%, P<0.001), endotracheal intubation (15.3%, vs. 34.4% P< 0.001), and defibrillation (18.5% vs. 43.4%, P< 0.001). Conclusion: During the first COVID-19 wave in Qom, there were significant changes in the emergency responses to OHCA. Hence, emergency preparedness should be considered in possible future crisis.

Keywords

• prehospital emergency care
• out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
• covid-19