To the Editor: Chen and colleagues associate the reduction in inhospital cardiopulmonary arrest (IHCA) incidence with the introduction of rapid response systems.1 Their population-based study of all patients aged ≥ 14 years in New South Wales found that hospital mortality decreased between 2002 and 2009. During this period, the age of the hospital population increased and patients aged ≥ 75 years were more likely to die in hospital (risk ratio [RR], 28.4), have an IHCA (RR, 8.6), die as a result of cardiac arrest (RR, 11.9), or die within 12 months of discharge (RR, 5.3).1
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- 1. Chen J, Ou L, Hillman KM, et al. Cardiopulmonary arrest and mortality trends, and their association with rapid response system expansion. Med J Aust 2014; 201: 167-170. <MJA full text>
- 2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia's hospitals 2010-11 at a glance. Canberra: AIHW, 2012. (AIHW Cat. No. HSE 118; Health Services Series No. 44.) http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737421715 (accessed Sep 2014).
- 3. Levinson M, Mills A. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation — time for a change in the paradigm? Med J Aust 2014; 201: 152-154. <MJA full text>
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