Factors influencing high-quality chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation scenario, according to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines

Abstract

 Background and aim: Recent American Heart Association guidelines from 2010 and 2015 stressed the importance of high-quality chest compression and defined standards for compression rate, depth, recoil, and maximal acceptable time for interruptions. High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the “cornerstone” of a system of care that can optimise outcomes beyond the return of spontaneous circulation.

Methods: One hundred medical students were enrolled to the study. Study participants, after attending a Basic Life Support Course according to American Heart Association 2015 guidelines, performed 2-min CPR on a Resusci Anne^® QCPR Mani­kin. The following data were collected: age, sex, and health status. The study made use of a Tanita MC-980 MA for body composition analysis.

Results: Mean height of participants was 170.2 ± 8.3 cm, and mean weight was 65 ± 11.8 kg. Mean body mass index was 22.1 ± 2.7, and mean fat-free mass (FFM) was 50.1 ± 10.5 kg. The mean fat mass (FAT%) was 22.9 ± 7.6. Basal metabolic rate, FFM, trunk muscle mass, left arm muscle mass, and right arm muscle mass were positively correlated with compression depth (all p for trend < 0.05). Mean compression depth was 49.7 ± 8.4 (for female 48.7 ± 7.9 mm, for male 42.4 ± 9.5 mm; p = 0.144). Compression rate for males and females was the same, at 114 ×/min (p = 0.769).

Conclusions: In our study, basal metabolic rate, FFM, trunk muscle mass, and left and right arm muscle mass were positively correlated with compression depth. Moreover, an arm muscle mass rise of 1 kg caused a rise of compression depth param­eter of 7.3 mm, while when chest compression was performed by females, a fall of compression depth of 3.3 mm was seen.