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Vol. 62 No. 3 (2026)
DOI: 10.4415/ANN_26_03_04
Original Articles
2026-09-07
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Incidence and factors associated with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an Italian region

Authors

Matteo De Vecchi , Ines Basso , Tommaso Davite , Erika Bassi , Erica Busca , Silvano Andorno , Luca Briacca , Carla Vigliano , Rosanna Vaschetto , Daniele Privitera , Laura Rubino , Salvatore Izzo , Roberto Gioachin , Alberto Dal Molin

Abstract

Introduction. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major cause of mortality, and early bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical for survival. This study assessed OHCA incidence and factors associated with bystander-initiated CPR in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.
Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 2022 administrative data from an Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre serving 851,538 residents. All confirmed OHCA cases were included. Demographic, clinical, and contextual variables were extracted. Descriptive statistics summarized case characteristics, and comparisons between events with and without bystander CPR were performed using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests.
Results. Among 905 confirmed cases, the incidence was 106 per 100,000 inhabitants. Most patients were male (57%), with a mean age of 76 years, and arrests occurred predominantly at home (87%). Bystander CPR was documented in 644 cases, occurring in 39.9%, mainly independently. CPR was more frequent in rural areas (p=0.002) and public settings (p<0.001). Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 6.4% and was strongly associated with bystander intervention (p<0.001).
Conclusions. Fewer than half of eligible patients received bystander CPR, highlighting gaps in community readiness. Strengthening public training and dispatcher-assisted CPR may improve outcomes.

Keywords: out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, emergency medical services, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, prehospital care, retrospective studies, CPR in Italian OHCA

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Authors

Matteo De Vecchi - Dipartimento Emergenza Urgenza, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy

Ines Basso - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Tommaso Davite - Dipartimento di Emergenza Urgenza, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Ovest Milanese, Magenta, Italy

Erika Bassi - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Erica Busca - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Silvano Andorno - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Luca Briacca - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Carla Vigliano - Dipartimento di Emergenza-Urgenza e Accettazione, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy

Rosanna Vaschetto - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

Daniele Privitera - Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Laura Rubino - Dipartimento di Emergenza Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy

Salvatore Izzo - Dipartimento di Emergenza Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy

Roberto Gioachin - Dipartimento Management e Gestione Reti di Emergenza, Azienda Sanitaria Zero, Torino e Novara, Italy

Alberto Dal Molin - Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

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Copyright (c) 2026 Istituto Superiore di Sanità

How to Cite
De Vecchi, M., Basso, I., Davite, T., Bassi, E., Busca, E., Andorno, S., Briacca, L., Vigliano, C., Vaschetto, R., Privitera, D., Rubino, L., Izzo, S., Gioachin, R., & Dal Molin, A. (2026). Incidence and factors associated with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in an Italian region. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 62(3), 217–223. https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_26_03_04
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