Measuring Disparities in the Chain of Survival among Hispanic Communities

Project Description
Risk factors for cardiac arrest are highly prevalent among Hispanics. US Hispanics are vulnerable to healthcare disparities due to a variety of cultural and linguistic differences that make it challenging to adapt to the US healthcare system. Because cardiac arrest survival is time-sensitive, any delays in recognition, activation of emergency medical services (EMS), and/or initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can lead to degradation of shockable rhythms (ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia, to a non- shockable arrhythmia (pulseless electrical activity or asystole). Hispanics may delay activation of EMS for fear of deportation or legal repercussions. The end result is lower survival probability and poor neurologic outcomes. Data prospectively submitted to the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) will be geocoded to census tracts in order to examine the association between census tract-level variables and cardiac arrest outcomes in Hispanics. The results of this research will advance the body of knowledge of OHCA in Hispanics through a better understanding of the association between Hispanic subgroup, neighborhood socioeconomic factors, and outcomes. .

Who is involved?
Principal Investigator: Marina Del Rios Rivera, MD, MSc
Co-Investigator: Sara Heinert, PhD
Co-Investigator: Pavitra Kotini-Shah, MD