This geospatial analysis examined neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama, to identify areas with elevated risks of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The study focused on the relationship between social determinants of health and both OHCA incidence and the rates of bystander interventions such as CPR and AED use.
The study found that neighborhoods with higher social vulnerability showed a significantly higher relative risk of OHCA. The overall bystander CPR rate was 15.5%, and the bystander AED application rate was 6.5%, indicating limited immediate response in many neighborhoods.
Several neighborhoods were identified as having extreme social vulnerability and excess OHCA risk, highlighting priority areas for targeted interventions.
The study underscores the need for community-focused interventions in high-risk neighborhoods. Expanding access to CPR and AED training, improving emergency response systems, and addressing underlying social vulnerabilities could improve survival rates in these communities.
Read the full article here.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Heart Association