Evaluation of Interventions in Prehospital and In-hospital Settings and Outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Meeting the Termination of Resuscitation Rule in Japan: A Nationwide Database Study (The JAAM-OHCA Registry).

Abstract

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a global health burden with low survival rates. The termination of resuscitation (TOR) rule, widely adopted internationally, aims to preserve dignity, optimize resources, and protect healthcare providers. However, prehospital TOR is not implemented in Japan, presenting legal and practical challenges. This study analyzes temporal trends in prehospital and in-hospital interventions for OHCA patients with poor predicted outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (JAAM-OHCA) registry (June 2014- December 2021). Adult OHCA patients with medical causes were included if they fulfilled all the advanced life support (ALS) TOR rule criteria: unwitnessed arrest, no return of spontaneous circulation, no bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and no automated external defibrillator use or defibrillation. Prehospital and in-hospital interventions were evaluated.

Results: Among 11,334 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 2,447 received all three ALS interventions (advanced airway management, intravenous access, and epinephrine administration). Over time, in-hospital interventions, including endotracheal intubation (56%) and epinephrine administration (82%), decreased, while advanced therapies, including coronary angiography, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and targeted temperature management, remained rare (<1%). The median time to TOR after hospital arrival shortened to 18 minutes. In contrast, prehospital epinephrine administration increased, while advanced airway management and intravenous access decreased.

Conclusions: OHCA patients who met TOR rule showed a decrease in in-hospital interventions. Further efforts are warranted to avoid futile medical treatments and promote patient-centered care.