J Korean Med Sci.  2021 Sep;36(36):e255. 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e255.

The Comparison of Emergency Medical Service Responses to and Outcomes of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Area of Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea
  • 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea
  • 3Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea
  • 4Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Busan, Korea
  • 5Department of Emergency Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea
  • 6Department of Emergency Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea
  • 7Department of Emergency Medicine, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
  • 8Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea

Abstract

Background
Since the declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, COVID-19 has affected the responses of emergency medical service (EMS) systems to cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EMS responses to and outcomes of adult OHCA in an area of South Korea.
Methods
This was a retrospective observational study of adult OHCA patients attended by EMS providers comparing the EMS responses to and outcomes of adult OHCA during the COVID-19 pandemic to those during the pre-COVID-19 period. Propensity score matching was used to compare the survival rates, and logistic regression analysis was used to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the survival of OHCA patients.
Results
A total of 891 patients in the pre-COVID-19 group and 1,063 patients in the COVID-19 group were included in the final analysis. During the COVID-19 period, the EMS call time was shifted to a later time period (16:00–24:00, P < 0.001), and the presence of an initial shockable rhythm was increased (pre-COVID-19 vs. COVID-19, 7.97% vs. 11.95%, P = 0.004). The number of tracheal intubations decreased (5.27% vs. 1.22%, P < 0.001), and the use of mechanical chest compression devices (30.53% vs. 44.59%, P < 0.001) and EMS response time (median [quartile 1-quartile 3], 7 [5–10] vs. 8 [6–11], P < 0.001) increased. After propensity score matching, the survival at admission rate (22.52% vs. 18.24%, P = 0.025), survival to discharge rate (7.77% vs. 5.52%, P = 0.056), and favorable neurological outcome (5.97% vs. 3.49%, P < 0.001) decreased. In the propensity score matching analysis of the impact of COVID-19, odds ratios of 0.768 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.592–0.995) for survival at admission and 0.693 (95% CI, 0.446–1.077) for survival to discharge were found.
Conclusion
During the COVID-19 period, there were significant changes in the EMS responses to OHCA. These changes are considered to be partly due to social distancing measures. As a result, the proportion of patients with an initial shockable rhythm in the COVID-19 period was greater than that in the pre-COVID-19 period, but the final survival rate and favorable neurological outcome were lower.

Keyword

Emergency Medical Services; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; COVID-19

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Definition of the study cohort. (A) Study cohort during the pre-COVID-19 period. (B) Study cohort during COVID-19 period.OHCA = out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, EMS = emergency medical service, ED = emergency department, DNR = do not resuscitate.aPrehospital emergency medical service data exist, but no record of patients visiting the ED exists.

  • Fig. 2 The daily incidence of adult OHCA patients and confirmed COVID-19 during the study period.OHCA = out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, COVID-19 = coronavirus disease.

  • Fig. 3 Neurological outcomes and survival results of adult OHCA patients during the study period. (A) Pre-COVID-19 period. (B) COVID-19 period.OHCA = out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, EMS = emergency medical service, ED = emergency department, ROSC = return of spontaneous circulation, CPC = cerebral performance category.aThe data of transferred patients was not traceable.


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