Abstract 278: The Association of Gender and Age with the Quality of Layperson CPR Performance

Abstract

Background: Clinical investigations have suggested that gender is associated with the quality of CPR, particularly chest compression (CC) depth, when performed by healthcare providers. Other studies have shown that performing CC depth >50 mm may be difficult in clinical practice, and may depend on provider characteristics that impact strength. Few studies have examined the association of gender and age with layperson CPR. Objective: We sought to determine the association of gender and age on the quality of CPR performed by laypersons during simulated CPR performance. We hypothesize that female gender and increasing age may be associated with shallower CC depth. Methods: In a secondary analysis of a multicenter trial of CPR training for cardiac patient caregivers, CPR skills were assessed 6 months after training. We analyzed the association of subject age and gender with CC rate, depth and no-flow time. CPR metrics were captured using a CPR skill-recorder manikin. Each variable was analyzed independently, then via a multivariable regression model to adjust for confounders such as BMI. Results: Between 7/2012-4/2014, 401 laypersons completed a CPR assessment. Mean age was 51.5±14.0 years, 74% were female, and 50% had a high school diploma/GED. Overall, mean CC depth was 43.8±14.2 mm, mean rate was 87.9±14.2 per min, and mean no-flow time per min was 7.5±11.0 sec. Male subjects performed deeper CC than female subjects (48.2±1.2 v. 42.2±0.7, p<0.01). As age increased, both male and female CC depth decreased significantly (see Table 1a and 1b). When analyzed independently, and controlling for other variables, BMI was not associated with CC depth. Additionally, there was no association between gender or age with CC rate or no-flow time while controlling for other variables. Conclusions: We found that female gender is associated with shallower CC depth and this difference was not confounded by BMI. Additionally, as lay providers increased in age, their CC depth decreased.