Reference

• The age-adjusted Sudden Cardiac Arrest rate is higher among men than women. (MMWR Feb 15, 2002 51(06):123-6).

• States with a high proportion of Sudden Cardiac Arrests, in descending order, include: Wisconsin, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Connecticut, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Montana and Vermont. Hawaii has the lowest age-adjusted Sudden Cardiac Arrest rate; Mississippi has the highest. (MMWR Feb 15, 2002 51(06):123-6).

• About two-thirds of unexpected cardiac deaths occur without prior indication of heart disease. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:1268-3008-13)

• EMS treats about 100,000 to 250,000 cardiac arrests in the U.S. annually. (JAMA 2002;288:3008-13; Ann Emerg Med 1999;34:517-25)

• Of the cardiac arrests treated by EMS, 20 to 38 percent are found in ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) (21,000 to 91,000 cases), rhythms that can be treated with defibrillators. (Ann Emerg Med 1999;34:517-25)

• Fifty-seven percent of adults in the U.S. say they have undergone training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), most often due to work or school requirements. Most say they would be willing to use CPR to help a stranger. Most say they would be willing to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Eleven percent say they have used CPR in an actual emergency. (Resuscitation 2000)

• The incidence of SCA in children is unknown. Estimates vary widely. Research among high school athletes suggests the incidence ranges from 0.28 to 1.0 death per 100,000 high school athletes nationwide (J Am Coll Cardiol 1998:32:1881-4).

• The average survival SCA survival rate is 6-7%. (Prehosp Emerg Care 1997; 1(1):45-57.)