Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients Aged 35 Years and Under: a 4-Year Study of Frequency and Survival in London

This study described the frequency & characteristics of cardiac arrest patients, 35 years & younger, attended by the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust between April 2003-March 2007. Data were analysed for 3084 patients & reported retrospectively. Over 75% of patients were aged 18-35 years. There were significantly more males in this age group compared to those aged 17 years or less. The most common cause of cardiac arrest was an underlying cardiac cause. Overdoses, hanging, & other suicides were found to be major causes of cardiac arrests of non-cardiac origin in young adult males. (26 refs.)