54
Patients with an arrest of presumed cardiac etiology had an unadjusted survival rate to hospital 
discharge of 9.7%. Survival rates were slightly higher among patients with an arrest caused by a 
respiratory mechanism or drowning (13.2 and 10.2%, respectively), whereas patients with an overdose-
related arrest had a survival rate of 19.3%. Survival was lowest among patients with an arrest due to 
exsanguination or hemorrhage (3.6%) (Figure 17).
Patients presenting with an initial shockable rhythm of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular 
tachycardia (VT) have a significantly higher chance of survival compared to those presenting with a 
non-shockable rhythm, such as asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) (Figure 18). Patients who 
presented in a shockable rhythm had a survival to hospital admission rate of 46.8%, compared to 32.3% 
for those in PEA and 13.4% for those in asystole. Similarly, patients presenting in a shockable rhythm had 
a greater chance of being discharged alive (28.9%), compared to 10.9% of patients presenting in PEA and 
2.5% of patients in asystole. 
Arrest witness status also has a significant impact on patient outcomes, as witnessed arrests have 
more opportunity for bystander intervention and early delivery of care. Patients with a 911 Responder 
witnessed arrest had the highest chance of survival to hospital discharge (18.0%), followed closely by 
those with a bystander witnessed arrest (16.1%). In contrast, unwitnessed events had a survival rate of 
4.3% (Figure 19).
Arrest Characteristics and Outcomes

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