AIM OF THE STUDY: To report the long-term changes in the incidence of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF), and also to report concurrent changes in the possible explanatory factors for the change. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. All bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (with a known initial rhythm) in Helsinki, Finland during 1.1.1994-31.12.2007 were included in the study. High (years 1994-1996) and low (2002-2004) incidence periods for VF were defined and compared. RESULTS: There were 3131 bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of which 3118 (99.6%) had a known initial rhythm. During 2000-2007 the annual incidence of bystander witnessed ventricular fibrillation (VF) was 11.6 (95% CI 9.7-13.5) per 100,000 inhabitants. In 1994-1996 VF was 1.8 times more likely than in 2002-2004, after adjustment for several patient related factors and EMS related factors. Arrests with cardiac aetiology became less common, as 54.8% arrests had a cardiac cause in 1994-1996 compared to 45.2% in 2002-2004 (p<0.001). Of cardiac arrests with cardiac aetiology, 60.6% presented with VF in 1994-1996 compared to 45.7% in 2002-2004 (p<0.001). There were major changes in the possible explanatory factors during the study period. CONCLUSION: The decline in the incidence of out-of-hospital VF seems to have ended, and the annual incidence of VF has stabilised to 11.6 (95% CI 9.7-13.5) per 100,000 inhabitants. During the period of lower incidence of VF, cardiac aetiology caused fewer arrests, and these arrests did not present with VF as often as previously.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To report the long-term changes in the incidence of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF), and also to report concurrent changes in the possible explanatory factors for the change. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. All bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (with a known initial rhythm) in Helsinki, Finland during 1.1.1994-31.12.2007 were included in the study. High (years 1994-1996) and low (2002-2004) incidence periods for VF were defined and compared. RESULTS: There were 3131 bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of which 3118 (99.6%) had a known initial rhythm. During 2000-2007 the annual incidence of bystander witnessed ventricular fibrillation (VF) was 11.6 (95% CI 9.7-13.5) per 100,000 inhabitants. In 1994-1996 VF was 1.8 times more likely than in 2002-2004, after adjustment for several patient related factors and EMS related factors. Arrests with cardiac aetiology became less common, as 54.8% arrests had a cardiac cause in 1994-1996 compared to 45.2% in 2002-2004 (p<0.001). Of cardiac arrests with cardiac aetiology, 60.6% presented with VF in 1994-1996 compared to 45.7% in 2002-2004 (p<0.001). There were major changes in the possible explanatory factors during the study period. CONCLUSION: The decline in the incidence of out-of-hospital VF seems to have ended, and the annual incidence of VF has stabilised to 11.6 (95% CI 9.7-13.5) per 100,000 inhabitants. During the period of lower incidence of VF, cardiac aetiology caused fewer arrests, and these arrests did not present with VF as often as previously.
Authors: Jukka Vaahersalo; Pamela Hiltunen; Marjaana Tiainen; Tuomas Oksanen; Kirsi-Maija Kaukonen; Jouni Kurola; Esko Ruokonen; Jyrki Tenhunen; Tero Ala-Kokko; Vesa Lund; Matti Reinikainen; Outi Kiviniemi; Tom Silfvast; Markku Kuisma; Tero Varpula; Ville Pettilä Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2013-02-16 Impact factor: 17.440
Authors: Janna P Kauppila; Lasse Pakanen; Katja Porvari; Juha Vähätalo; Lauri Holmström; Juha S Perkiömäki; Heikki V Huikuri; M Juhani Junttila Journal: Ann Med Date: 2021-12 Impact factor: 4.709