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The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in a Low-Incidence Urban City: An Observational Epidemiological Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Chung-Hsien Liu

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan
    Graduate School of Design, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 640, Taiwan)

  • Ming-Jen Tsai

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

  • Chi-Feng Hsu

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

  • Cheng-Han Tsai

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Veteran’s General Hospital, Chia-Yi Branch, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

  • Yao-Sing Su

    (Fire Bureau, Chiayi City Government, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

  • Deng-Chuan Cai

    (Graduate School of Design, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 640, Taiwan)

Abstract

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system faced overwhelming challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, further information is required to determine how the pandemic affected the EMS response and the clinical outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in COVID-19 low-incidence cities. A retrospective study was conducted in Chiayi, Taiwan, a COVID-19 low-incidence urban city. We compared the outcomes and rescue records before (2018–2019) and during (2020–2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 567 patients before and 497 during the pandemic were enrolled. Multivariate analysis revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant influence on the achievement of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and sustained ROSC but was associated with lower probabilities of survival to discharge (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.89, p = 0.002) and discharge with favorable neurologic outcome among OHCA patients (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.16–0.77, p = 0.009). Patients’ ages and OHCA locations were also discovered to be independently related to survival results. The overall impact of longer EMS rescue times on survival outcomes during the pandemic was not significant, with an exception of the specific group that experienced prolonged rescue times (total EMS time > 21 min).

Suggested Citation

  • Chung-Hsien Liu & Ming-Jen Tsai & Chi-Feng Hsu & Cheng-Han Tsai & Yao-Sing Su & Deng-Chuan Cai, 2023. "The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in a Low-Incidence Urban City: An Observational Epidemiological Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2713-:d:1056354
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yi-Rong Chen & Chi-Jiang Liao & Han-Chun Huang & Cheng-Han Tsai & Yao-Sing Su & Chung-Hsien Liu & Chi-Feng Hsu & Ming-Jen Tsai, 2021. "The Effect of Implementing Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Devices on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients in an Urban City of Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
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