Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the out-of-hospital setting is a major global health problem. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) dramatically increases the chance of survival for a victim suffering from SCA.
In Hong Kong, the survival-to-discharge rate of SCA is about 2.3%, which is among the lowest in the world. SCA is more common among the senior citizens. This is not surprising as more elderly people have chronic illnesses like coronary artery disease. However, if prompt intervention is provided, the elderly with SCA may have a similar chance of survival as the young.
