Differences in bystander CPR by patient, caller, and telecommunicator sex: a retrospective analysis of emergency calls

Individuals who receive prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have a two-fold increase in chance of survival compared to those who do not receive CPR after out-of- hospital cardiac arrest. Female patients receive CPR in public less frequently than male patients. We compared the frequency of bystander CPR receipt for patients by the sex of the patient, caller, and telecommunicator. We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing OHCA calls from Durham County, North Carolina, United States. We partnered with Durham County EMS and Durham Emergency Communications Center for the data set used in this study. We present frequency for receipt of bystander CPR by the sex of the caller, patient, and telecommunicator. We reviewed 197 calls representing 188 patients. When the telecommunicator was female, 47% of callers performed CPR. When the telecommunicator was male, 57% of callers performed CPR. When the caller was female, 44% of female and 51% of male patients received CPR. When the caller was male, 51% of female and 53% of male patients received CPR. When the telecommunicator was female, 40% of the females and 51% of males received CPR. When the telecommunicator was male, 65% of females and 53% of males received CPR. Females with suspected OHCA received CPR less frequently than males. Rates of CPR for females differed descriptively based on the sex of the caller and telecommunicator. The highest rates of CPR for females were observed when the caller and telecommunicator were male. Future studies should examine sex-related barriers to telecommunicator-caller communication and to identify interventions to address any confirmed impacts on patient outcomes in OHCA.