Aim: To describe the change in the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation as initially observed arrhythmia among patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.
Patients: All patients included in the Swedish cardiac arrest registry between 1991 until 2001. The registry covers 85% of the population in Sweden.
Methods: All patients with bystander witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry between 1991 and 2001 from the same ambulance organisation each year were included in the survey.
Results: Over 11 years, among patients in Sweden with a bystander witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted (n = 9666), the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation as the initially obseved arrhythmia decreased from 45% in 1991 to 28% in 2001 (P < 0.0001) if the arrest occurred at home, and from 57% to 41% if the arrest occurred outside home (P < 0.0001). This was found despite the fact that the proportion who received bystander CPR increased from 29% in 1991 to 39% in 2001 if the arrest occurred at home (P < 0.0001) and from 54% to 60% if the arrest occurred outside home (NS). There was a significant increase in age among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at home, no change in the estimated interval between collapse and call but an increase in the interval between call and arrival of the ambulance among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outside home.
Conclusion: During 11 years in Sweden, there was a marked decrease in the proportion of patients found in ventricular fibrillation among patients with a bystander witnessed cardiac arrest regardless whether the arrest occurred at home or outside home. A modest increase in age and interval between call for, and arrival of, the ambulance was associated with these findings.