Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during lockdown Effects of the infection prevention measures during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. Consequences of infection prevention measures during such contagion events can cause disadvantages especially for patients in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods Retrospective analysis of OHCAs in one county from January-May in 2018, 2019 and 2020, with the first appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020 and a high incidence of the influenza virus in 2018. Results A total of 497 OHCAs were investigated (2018 n = 173; 2019 n = 149; 2020 n = 175). In this study, a constant resuscitation incidence (85-99 resuscitations/100,000 population/year) and locally typical patients (mean 70 years, 66% male; median PES 3) were found. There were no statistically significant differences in the initial situation of the patients (number of observed OHCAs, frequency of lay resuscitations, suspected causes of OHCAs, initial ECG rhythm) and the treatment course (frequency of return of spontaneous circulation [ROSC]/hospital admission/survival to hospital discharge, neurological outcome). None of the OHCA patients in 2020 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 3 patients in 2018 tested positive for the influenza virus. Discussion The lockdown during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic does not seem to have affected the outcome of OHCA patients without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the end.