The Epidemiology of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Western Australia: A Population-based linked Data Study

Abstract

This thesis investigates the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), in Perth, Western Australia. The thesis examines long-term trends in OHCA incidence and survival, with subsequent detailed analyses of the equivalence of different survival metrics, the long-term survival of OHCA patients relative to the general population, and the role of initial cardiac arrest rhythm in long-term survival. In addition, the thesis includes a systematic review of the association between patient comorbidity and OHCA survival.