ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is important for increased survival and improved neurological outcome. Chest compression fraction measures the proportion of time chest compressions are given during a cardiac arrest resuscitation. Chest compression fraction has not been compared with the quality of chest compressions delivered at the recommended rate and depth of 100-120/min and 2.0-2.4 inches, respectively. OBJECTIVES: We evaluate whether chest compression fraction correlates with compressions at a target rate of 100-120/min and depth of 2.0-2.4 inches in chest diameter. METHODS: A prospective, observational study design was used to compare chest compression fraction to compressions in target in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in a prehospital urban setting. We include all adult, non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with a resuscitation attempt during January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019, for a total of 9 months. Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine correlation between compression fraction and compressions in target. RESULTS: A total of 120 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases were included in the study. We found a high chest compression fraction median of 83% (interquartile range 72-90%), but a low compression in target median of 13% (interquartile range 5-29%). There was no significant correlation between chest compression fraction and compressions in target when analyzed linearly (Spearman's Rho = 0.165, p = 0.072). No difference was found when dichotomizing chest compression fraction into high and low variables in comparison with compressions in target (14% vs. 10%, p = 0.119). CONCLUSION: Chest compression fraction is not associated with compressions in target for rate and depth for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cardiopulmonary resuscitation.