Cardiac arrest & resuscitation
International Incidence of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
Authors' conclusion
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents affecting children reported in high-income countries are rare and the incidence is influenced by factors such as age and etiology.
Study context
- Population
- Children with EMS-treated OHCA, population-based studies from 18 countries (17 high-income, one upper-middle-income)
- Participants
- 37,681 children · 50 studies
- Outcome
- Pooled incidence rate of OHCA in all children
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model, prespecified subgroups, Unclear overall risk of bias (JBI checklist); diagnostic criteria for OHCA not commonly reported
- Random-effects model
- Prespecified subgroups
- Unclear overall risk of bias (JBI checklist); diagnostic criteria for OHCA not commonly reported
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled incidence rate per 100,000 person-years
5.56
95% CI 4.54–6.58; I2 = 100%
Further pooled results
Incidence by prespecified subgroups (etiology, presenting rhythm, age)
- Substantial variation in incidence across subgroups of etiology, presenting rhythm, and age
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
International Incidence of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies. Crit Care Med. Published 26 March 2026. doi:10.
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