Impact of bystander and patient sex on cardiopulmonary resuscitation provision in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
While the data suggests sex mismatch between patient and bystander is associated with lower CPR rates, the most actionable finding is that implementing DA-CPR appears to improve these odds. This supports integrating robust, gender-neutral public education emphasizing immediate high-quality chest compressions for all bystanders, regardless of perceived demographic match.
This large cohort study analyzed nationwide registry data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) from 2019 to mid-2023, focusing specifically on how the sex of both the patient and the bystander influences CPR provision. The authors found a statistically significant interaction effect, noting that bystander CPR rates were lower when the patient's sex differed from the bystander's sex. More pointedly, female bystanders demonstrated a reduced likelihood of providing CPR compared to male bystanders overall. Interestingly, this observed disparity—particularly for male patients receiving care from female bystanders—showed an attenuation when dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) was utilized, suggesting DA-CPR might be a useful adjunct intervention.