Purpose: Survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary significantly by region. With population aging and regional resource disparities, "social" and "medical" isolation have emerged as critical risk factors. This study investigated th...
Purpose: Survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) vary significantly by region. With population aging and regional resource disparities, "social" and "medical" isolation have emerged as critical risk factors. This study investigated the effects of these isolation variables on survival and neurological outcomes in OHCA patients, focusing on those with shockable rhythms, using hierarchical logistic regression analysis.
Method: Data from the 2023 Acute Cardiac Arrest Survey were linked with community indicators. Of 25,358 non traumatic OHCA cases, 3,585 patients with shockable rhythms were stratified for analysis. Social isolation was defined by witness status and the proportion of elderly living alone. Medical isolation included total transport time, medically vulnerable area status, and emergency department density. A hierarchical logistic regression was performed to examine the incremental influence of these variables.
Result: Social and medical isolation had distinct impacts. Witnessed arrest, representing social connectivity, was the strongest predictor of improved survival (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.59–2.31) and neurological recovery (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.48–2.81). Residing in a medically vulnerable area negatively affected neurological recovery (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39–0.89) but was not associated with survival. Transport times exceeding 30 minutes were associated with better neurological outcomes (OR 1.31), implying benefits of bypass transport. Bystander CPR was also significantly associated with good neurological recovery (OR 1.68).
Conclusion: Social isolation primarily threatens survival, while medical isolation hinders neurological recovery in survivors. Policy interventions should focus on automated alert systems (e.g., IoT) to overcome social isolation and restructuring transport systems in vulnerable areas to ensure access to specialized post-resuscitation care.