Cardiac arrest & resuscitation
Hesitate to resuscitate? A cohort study of hesitation to initiate resuscitation for in-hospital cardiac arrests
Authors' conclusion
Hesitation to initiate CPR in IHCA occur, particularly among older patients admitted in general wards. Hesitation relates to lack of resuscitation decisions or staff expressing an opinion that a DNACPR decision should have been made prior to the IHCA.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, 2007–2023
- Participants
- 36,471 adults
- Exposure
- Hesitation vs non-hesitation to initiate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Hesitationn = 2,757
- Outcome
- Hesitation ratio (extent of medical staff hesitation to initiate CPR at an IHCA)
Methodological detailsregistry-based, mixed methods (inductive qualitative content analysis)
- Registry-based
- Mixed methods (inductive qualitative content analysis)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hesitation ratio
Hesitation
8%
2757
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Hesitation | Non-hesitation | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | mean 79 years | 72 | P < 0.01 |
Hesitation ratio by admission location (general ward vs ICU)
- General ward hesitation ratio
- 11%
- ICU hesitation ratio
- 3%
- General ward vs ICU
- P < 0.01
Factors with hesitation ratio over 10%
- Hesitation ratio over 10% for age, ongoing MI, general ward, non-ECG-surveillance and unwitnessed
Grounds for hesitation (qualitative)
- Most commonly a prior Do-not-attempt CPR (DNACPR) order or staff wish to have one; some related to age or comorbidity; none related to frailty
Original publication
Hesitate to resuscitate? A cohort study of hesitation to initiate resuscitation for in-hospital cardiac arrests. Resuscitation. Published 7 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →