Pandemic’s heart toll

Fewer New Zealanders are surviving cardiac arrests that occur outside of hospital, with survival rates down for the second consecutive year – a fact experts believe is linked to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. St John Ambulance’s latest out-of-hospital cardiac arrest reports cover all cardiac arrests in the community attended by St John and Wellington Free Ambulance between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. During this period, more than 2000 Kiwis were treated for cardiac arrest in the community – about five per day. Only 25% lived long enough to get to hospital, and 11% survived 30 days after being discharged. Thiswas down from about 27% resuscitated and transported to hospital, and 14% who lived 30 days post-discharge in 2018/19. In 2019/20, 25% lived to arrive at hospital and 13% survived to day 30.The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns caused ‘‘a lot of disruption’’ to howhealthcarewas delivered, St John clinical director Dr Tony Smith said. Hospitals, general practice and ambulance serviceswere having to adapt and adjust ‘‘very quickly to an evolving situation’’. ‘‘We suspect some of this may have contributed to the slight drop in survival from cardiac arrest in the community,’’ he said.