Key result
In-stadium medical teams with AEDs achieve an 82% resuscitation success rate for cardiac arrests.
Why the study?
The incidence of acute cardiac events including out-of-hospital cardiac arrest may be increased in visitors of large sports stadiums compared with the general population, but data on incidence and emergency response systems in Dutch stadiums were lacking.
What is the incidence of acute cardiac events and the success rate of resuscitation using AEDs in large football stadiums?
Cohort (n=13,000,000)
Yes
What is the incidence of acute cardiac events and the success rate of resuscitation using AEDs in large football stadiums?
The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in large football stadiums is low, but the success rate of resuscitation by medical teams equipped with AEDs is high (82%), highlighting the importance of adequate emergency medical response systems in sports venues.
Supports AED-equipped stadium teams for OHCA; leaves open generalizability beyond football matches and requires prospective confirmation.
BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute cardiac events - including out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - may be increased in visitors of large sports stadiums when compared with the general population. This study sought to investigate the incidence of acute cardiac events inside large Dutch football stadiums, as well as the emergency response systems deployed in these stadiums and the success rate for in-stadium resuscitation. DESIGN AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using a questionnaire sent to the 20 Dutch stadiums that hosted professional matches during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 football seasons. RESULTS: Stadium capacity ranged from 3600 to 51 600 spectators. Nearly 13 million spectators attended 686 'Eredivisie' (Honorary Division) and European football matches. All stadiums distribute multiple emergency medical teams among the spectators. Eighty-five percent of the stadiums have an ambulance standby during matches, 95% of the stadiums were equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during the study period. On an average, one AED was available for every 7576 spectators (range 1800-29 600). Ninety-three cardiac events were reported (7.3 per 1 million spectators). An AED was used 22 times (1.7 per 1 million spectators). Resuscitation was successful in 18 cases (82%, 95% confidence interval: 61-93). CONCLUSION: The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest inside large football stadiums in the Netherlands, albeit increased when compared with the general population, is low. The success rate for in-stadium resuscitation by medical teams equipped with AEDs is high. Dutch stadiums appear vigilant in regard to acute cardiac events. This report highlights the importance of adequate emergency medical response systems (including AEDs) in large sports venues.
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Sandt et al. (2009) conducted a cohort in Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (n=13,000,000). In-stadium resuscitation with AEDs was evaluated on Successful resuscitation (95% CI 61-93). In-stadium resuscitation by medical teams equipped with AEDs achieved an 82% success rate (95% CI 61-93) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests during large football matches.
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