Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are common in public buildings, but new analysis reveals they are rarely used to help resuscitate people in cardiac arrest. became. The study, scheduled to be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session, found that out of about 1,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, an AED was used in only 13. This is despite the fact that many of the accidents occurred near public AEDs.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. This is different from a heart attack, where a blockage prevents blood from reaching the heart. Cardiac arrest often occurs without warning, resulting in a person collapsing and becoming unresponsive. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is usually fatal, but cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an AED greatly increase the chance of survival.

AEDs (devices that analyze heart rhythm and deliver electric shocks if necessary) are designed to be easy to use, even by untrained bystanders, and are available in many states at locations such as airports and shopping malls. There are laws that allow these devices to be used in public places. , school or gym.

The availability of public AEDs is important so that people can use them at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner. However, in order to use it, people need to know it exists. Just being in the right place is not enough. ”

Mirza S. Khan, MD, physician and medical informaticist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and lead author of the study

The study used data from the national registry to analyze 1,799 cardiac arrests that occurred in homes and public settings in Kansas City, Missouri, between 2019 and 2022. Researchers used a database of public AEDs in the city to calculate the walk time from where each cardiac arrest occurred to the nearest registered AED.

The results showed that the majority of cardiac arrests (about 85%) occurred at home. In his 42% of these cases, a bystander (someone other than a paramedic) performed CPR on her, but an AED was never used. Researchers calculated that nearly a quarter of home cardiac arrests occurred within a four-minute walk of a public AED.

Bystanders performed CPR in about 42% of cardiac arrests that occurred in public places, and used an AED in about 7% of cases. Almost half of these cardiac arrests occurred within a 4-minute walk from an AED. Even in the “optimal” scenario, in which a bystander performed CPR and the event occurred within a four-minute walk of an AED, the AED was used in only about one in four incidents.

Taken together, the results suggest that AEDs are often underutilized despite their availability. By drawing attention to this gap, the findings of this study can improve signage around AEDs, provide apps and mapping tools to help people find AEDs, and educate people through local volunteer training programs. and may help inform ongoing efforts to raise awareness.

“It is heartening to see the enthusiasm of local authorities and organizations who are keen to use this initiative to take it to the next level of reducing the disparities in AED use that we all want to see. ”Khan said. He said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year, with an average of more than 1,000 occurring each day. It is estimated that the survival rate for people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital is only about 10%. Signs of cardiac arrest include suddenly collapsing and losing consciousness, being unresponsive to screaming or shaking, gasping for air or not breathing, and having no pulse. If you think someone is in cardiac arrest, you should immediately call 911, locate an AED, and perform CPR until medical professionals arrive.

The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health.