Death Attacks

Yesterday the stories(1)(2)(3) were on race and aftercare cardiac survival rates and how Blacks do worse than Whites according to the most recent research published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). HealthDay included a link to the American Heart Association on cardiac arrest which includes the information that: "No statistics are available for the exact number of cardiac arrests that occur each year. It's estimated that more than 95 percent of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. In cities where defibrillation is provided within 5 to 7 minutes, the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is as high as 30–45 percent."

Twelve (12) percent of five (5) percent doesn't seem significantly important except if you beat the odds and make it to the hospital you're a part of the five (5) percent. However it ain't over and surviving to receive care isn't the end whether you're Black or White. You're still likely to perish as a result of what ever created your cardiac condition. The difference isn't in your color but in what hospital you select - which for many is a matter of your skin color.

"Racial Differences in Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest" When the article refers to the National Registry of CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (NRCR) for their research using hospitals affiliated with the registry we immediately sought to get a local lists. Unfortunately such a list isn't available from their website but what is listed is their original research on Cardiac arrest in the Emergency Department: A report from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation which refers to a link to a second (PDF) two (2) page report also links to a third report which concludes: "What does this mean to your facility? Patients who suffer a cardiac arrest in the ED are a unique population having better survival to discharge compared to patients arresting in other hospital locations. As ED location was an independent positive predictor of survival, further analysis of process variable such as personnel, training, and frequency of practice may identify opportunities for improvement."

The linked research concludes: "ED CAs have unique characteristics, and better survival and neurologic outcomes compared to other hospital locations. Primary ED CAs have a better chance of survival to discharge than recurrent events. Traumatic ED CAs have worse outcomes than non-traumatic CA."

We included the video reports here for your own edification. Most edifying are the additional comments by Dr. Chan on the issue of race abd treatment excluded from the main report but a part of the official "B" roll. The comments follow one after the other.