Impact of COVID-19 on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care processes

Abstract

Early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of defibrillators (including automated external defibrillators) and timely treatment by emergency medical services are known to increase the chances of survival for a patient experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this is unclear from examining previous literature. This commentary critically appraises a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, which assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on prehospital care for OHCA.