Cardiac arrests in hospitals may be more common than previously thought

By ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ News

Hemant Mehta, Getty Images
(Hemant Mehta, Getty Images)

Tens of thousands more people than previously believed may be having cardiac arrests in hospitals, a new analysis says.

Researchers estimate about 292,000 adult in-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the United States each year. That's 38% higher than earlier estimates. The numbers come from a model developed for estimating cardiac arrests, using data from two ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ registries.

The reason for the change is not clear.

"Unfortunately, the data does not provide an explanation for the increase in adult in-hospital cardiac arrest," study co-author Dr. Lars W. Andersen said in a news release, "but it is likely due to many factors and may reflect an increase in actual events or in the reporting of cases over time."

Cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating, is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.

The study, published Tuesday in , also estimated 15,200 "in-hospital events" involved children. Of those, 7,100 cases were cardiac arrests where the patient had no pulse, and 8,100 were cases where the patient had a pulse but still required CPR.

Compared to previous reports, the number of pulseless pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests is approximately 18% higher in the new study. Researchers found no indication the number of such events has increased over time; the new estimates are based on a larger database.

In 2011, the last time cardiac arrest data from the two registries was analyzed, the estimate was 211,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests in adults and 6,000 in children.

Andersen is an associate professor at Aarhus University in Denmark who oversaw the study as a visiting researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's department of emergency medicine in Boston. He said the findings may suggest basic life support and advanced cardiac life support training programs – which traditionally have focused on out-of-hospital resuscitation – may need to be expanded to include potential in-hospital responders.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].


ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ News Stories

ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ News stories reflect the official position of the ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ scientific journals or presented at ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥ News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the ľ¹ÏÖ±²¥â€™s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.