Background
The incidence of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) differs consistently between women and men.Besides sex related factors , OHCA risk may relate to gender related factors.Although previous studies regarding sex difference outcomes after OHCA yielded conflicting results , from some researches it seems that women have less shockable initial rhythm than men and they have worse survival.
Methods
We considered 5524 consecutively OHCA survivors resuscitated from emergency medical System ( EMS) or bystander In two city of Emilia Romagna: Piacenza (3452 ) and Bologna (2072) from January 2009 to December 2019 and we evaluated the outcomes , considering sex and gender disparities.
Results
Out of 5524 patients , who experienced OHCA , 3340 ( 60%) were males with average age 70,6 ±14 years and 2184 (40%) females with average age of 78,9 ±13 years (0,001).Overall survival rate was 8% .In our population we observed as initial rhythm of cardiac arrest : 3057 ( 57%) asystole , 1070 (22%) ventricular fibrillation (VF) and 998 ( 21%) pulseless electrical activity ( PEA) with sex disparities.In fact we have found : 1695 asystole (51%), 840 FV (25%), 583 pea (17%) in men and 1362 asistolia (62%), 230 fv (11%), 415 pea (19%)in women. Asystole was more frequently in females (62 f vs 51m %, 0.001), whilst VF in males (25 vs 11%, 0.001).Furthermore considering sex disparities , survival was better in males 299 (9%) than in females 115 (5%), 0.001
Conclusions
In our population OHCA was more frequent in males in line with previous published data. However, females affected by OHCA are older, tend to present more frequently with non-shockable rhythms and show worse outcome. It’s unknown if these data are related to sex biological differences or gender disparities . Further data will be necessary to explain this challenge