Title: Study Reveals Women Are Less Likely to Receive Life-Saving CPR Than Men
Subtitle: Doctors attribute the gender disparity to bystander fears and societal norms
Date: September 18, 2023
By Caitlin Tilley, Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com
A recent study conducted in Canada has suggested that women are less likely to receive lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in public compared to men. Researchers analyzed tens of thousands of cases of cardiac arrest occurring outside of the hospital between 2005 and 2015, revealing a significant gender disparity in CPR rates.
According to the study, approximately 61 percent of women received CPR when experiencing a cardiac arrest in a public setting, while the percentage for men was slightly higher at 68 percent. The discrepancy in CPR rates could potentially increase the risk of death from cardiac arrest for women.
Doctors participating in the study offered possible explanations for this gender disparity. They speculated that bystanders may hesitate to administer CPR to women due to “political correctness” concerns and fears of appearing inappropriate. These factors, they believe, may contribute to the lower CPR rates observed among female patients.
Dr. Alexis Cournoyer, an emergency medicine physician at the Montreal Heart Institute research center and joint study author, emphasized the importance of bystanders providing CPR in such situations. He stated, “In an emergency when someone is unconscious and not breathing properly, in addition to calling an ambulance, bystanders should give CPR. This will give the patient a much better chance of survival and recovery.”
The study also highlighted the overall low rates of bystander-performed CPR, with only around 54 percent of patients receiving CPR from a bystander. The gender disparity in CPR rates was more pronounced in public environments, such as on the street, where 61 percent of women received CPR compared to 68 percent of men. This trend persisted across all age groups of women.
Dr. Cournoyer expressed concern about the findings, stating, “Our study shows that women experiencing a cardiac arrest are less likely to get the CPR they need compared to men, especially if the emergency happens in public. We don’t know why this is the case. It could be that people are worried about hurting or touching women, or that they think a woman is less likely to be having a cardiac arrest.”
Dr. Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, added that there may be a sociological aspect to the reluctance in providing CPR to women in public. He suggested that men might fear potential legal or emotional consequences and feel uncomfortable assisting a woman during a medical emergency.
Efforts should be made to address these concerns and encourage bystanders to administer CPR regardless of gender. The researchers called for society to prioritize saving lives over societal norms and political correctness. They emphasized that people should be trained in CPR and be willing to perform it when necessary, without hesitation or fear of repercussions.
Cardiac arrest is a serious medical emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, denying the body of oxygen-rich blood. Brain cell death can occur within minutes without proper intervention. Prompt CPR and access to defibrillators can significantly improve survival rates.
These findings underline the importance of increasing awareness and education regarding CPR, particularly about the need for gender-neutral responses to emergencies. The study’s results are set to be presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress, raising awareness and encouraging action to improve CPR rates for women and save more lives.