Survival rates far worse for Black women after bystander CPR, study finds

Survival rates for Black women after bystander CPR are significantly worse than for White men, according to a recent study. The study reveals a troubling disparity in the effectiveness of bystander CPR for cardiac arrests outside of hospitals. While bystander CPR generally improves survival rates, the benefits are notably reduced for Black individuals and women. The study analyzed patient records and found that nearly 40% of people who experienced cardiac arrest received CPR from a bystander. However, survival outcomes varied significantly by race and gender, with White men having the highest rate of survival and Black women having the lowest. The study suggests that lower-quality dispatcher instructions and low CPR training rates in Black communities could contribute to this disparity. Efforts are being made to boost CPR training in historically underserved communities to address these disparities.