SAEMF/GEMA Research Grant - $10,000

"Analyzing Bystander Intervention for Cardiac Arrest in a Low-Middle Income Country"

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant global health issue. In 2023, the USA recorded approximately 140,000 OHCAs with a survival rate of 10.2%. However, survival rates are much lower in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Pakistan where the 2-months survival rate was found to be near 0%. This is partly due to limited access to emergency medical services (EMS) and low rates of bystander intervention, including on-site cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even though 93% of OHCA cases were witnessed, bystander intervention occurred in only 2.3% of cases. This is in stark contrast to data from high-income countries (HICs) like the USA which has reported a 41.2% bystander intervention rate. To address this gap, the Aga Khan University’s Center of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies launched the Pakistan Life Savers Program (PLSP). The program aims to train 10 million Pakistani citizens in basic lifesaving skills and has already trained over 328,000 individuals. This grant aims to understand the factors that influence bystander involvement and analyze the impact of PLSP on bystander intervention rates.