COVID-19 Pandemic Exacerbates Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Telangana, India

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at DIT University have conducted a study to assess the differences in incidence rates and clinical outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Telangana, India, between the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. The study found that OHCA outcomes were severely impacted by delayed emergency response and limited access to advanced care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incidence of OHCA increased significantly during the pandemic period, with a 20-minute delay in emergency response increasing from 15% to 80.3% during the first wave.
  • ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) rates remained low across all periods, with survival noted in only 0.26% of cases pre-pandemic and 0% during the pandemic.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of early CPR, trained bystanders, and rapid EMS response times to improve survival rates in OHCA cases.
  • The pandemic highlighted the need for public awareness and continued training in CPR, as well as greater use of AEDs and revised guidelines and recommendations.
  • The study identified several contributing factors to high mortality rates in OHCA cases, including delayed emergency response, limited access to advanced care, and a lack of trained bystanders.

Statistics:

  • Incidence of OHCA increased by 25% during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period.
  • 20-minute delays in emergency response increased from 15% to 80.3% during the first wave of the pandemic.
  • ROSC rates remained low across all periods, with survival noted in only 0.26% of cases pre-pandemic and 0% during the pandemic.
  • The study suggests that early CPR and rapid EMS response times can improve survival rates, with CPR administered within the first 5 minutes improving survival rates by up to 30%.

Sources:

  • A retrospective cohort study on impact of Covid-19 outbreak on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Telangana, India: mortality trends, contributing factors, and research imperatives. (BMC Public Health, 2025,25(1):1-15.)
  • BMC Public Health - http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com
  • DIT University Researchers Update Current Data on COVID-19 [A retrospective cohort study on impact of Covid-19 outbreak on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Telangana, India: mortality trends, contributing factors, and research ...]. (Cardiovascular Week, September 8, 2025; p 69.)