Acute cardiac care & resuscitationCohort study
Health inequalities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates in England 2018–23
- retrospective analysis of observational data
- OHCA Outcomes registry
- geocoded case locations linked to 2021 Census data
Authors' conclusion
This analysis highlights persistent geographic and socioeconomic disparities in OHCA incidence, BCPR rates and survival across England that remain unchanged since 2015. Identifying local patterns in BCPR and understanding community-specific characteristics can guide more effective, equitable CPR training. Targeted, community-based interventions-especially in high-risk areas-are needed to reduce mortality.
Study context
- Population
- OHCA patients in England, 2018–2023OHCA patients mapped to 2102 postcode districts
- Participants
- 165,701 patients
- Exposure
- High-risk vs low-risk areas
- High-risk areasn = 499
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BCPR
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival
- ROSC
- 27.4% vs 26.5%
- Survival
- 8.2% vs 7.9%
- ROSC and survival rates slightly higher
Characteristics of high-risk areas
- More urban, deprived, and ethnically diverse, with lower shockable rhythm and public access defibrillation rates
Postcode districts remaining high-risk
- Postcode districts remain high-risk
- 23.6%
- Geographic patterns have slightly shifted since 2013-2015
Original publication
Health inequalities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates in England 2018–23. Resuscitation. Published 8 June 2026. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2026.111162
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it