Bystander CPR Linked to Better Outcomes after Cardiac Arrest

Bystander cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) not only saves lives, it also helps a survivor’s ability to return to work, according to a new study by Danish researchers.

Awareness of the simple, life-saving technique is key to better outcomes, says a New York health educator.

“When a person suddenly collapses, their heart stops beating. There is some oxygen left in the blood and those first few minutes are so important to keep that blood flow going and minimize any deterioration to the brain cells,” said Catherine Blotiau, health educator for the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

“This is the best way of increasing survival by getting fast, immediate response from bystanders.”

For the study, researchers examined 4,354 patients in Denmark who were employed before they suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrests from 2001 to 2011.

They found that 75 percent of those patients were capable of returning to work, and that survivors who had received CPR from bystanders had a 40 percent higher chance of going back to their employment compared to those who didn’t.

Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have diagnosed heart disease. It occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions.

Each year, more than 420,000 emergency medical services-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States, according to the American Heart Association.

In Denmark, where the study took place, people applying for a driver’s license are required to know basic life support. That prerequisite makes sense to do here as well, said Blotiau.

“The more people that know how to do it, the more likely that someone is going to be helped,” said Blotiau. “Here’s something we can do so simply to save lives, why wouldn’t we do it?”

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