CDC Unveils New Adult Vaccination Rates; nfid Surveys Illuminate Barriers to Vaccine Uptake

/PRNewswire/ -- New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that adults remain largely unvaccinated against preventable infectious illnesses. At a news conference convened today by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), experts in public health, infectious disease, oncology and other medical specialties discussed the data and the health consequences for adults who skip vaccines. They collectively called on all adults and health care providers to improve vaccination rates.

"For more than six decades, vaccines have protected us from infectious illnesses that have a wide range of consequences, from lost work days and inability to meet our daily obligations, to pain, discomfort, hospitalization, long-term disability and death," said Susan J. Rehm, M.D., NFID medical director. According to Dr. Rehm, by foregoing needed vaccines, adults not only leave themselves vulnerable to sickness, but they expose those around them to unnecessary risks, too.

This problem is evident right now, as pertussis (whooping cough) continues to claim the lives of infants in California, while adults, who are frequently responsible for transmitting the disease to infants, fail to get the one-time pertussis booster vaccine. The impact of other vaccine-preventable infections may not be as immediately apparent, but they are no less important. Other vaccines for adults protect against viruses that cause several types of cancer, reactivation of the chickenpox virus that causes shingles later in life, and infection with bacteria that are the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia.

New survey results from NFID suggest that doctor/patient communication challenges may be at least part of the problem. While physicians perceive they are encouraging their adult patients to be vaccinated, patients say the topic of vaccination rarely comes up during their doctor visits.

Vaccination rates highest among seniors; lowest among minority groups

In unveiling the adult vaccination data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), Melinda Wharton, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, noted that the highest immunization rates are among older Americans, who tend to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal infections. She suggested that one reason for this might be that older persons tend to have more routine visits with health care providers, providing more opportunities to learn about and adopt good preventive care behaviors.

"A good ongoing relationship with your medical provider is positive for so many reasons," said Dr. Wharton, "not least of which is that you will have an ongoing opportunity learn about the best ways to stay healthy, including the best preventive care choices like vaccines."

While adult vaccination rates are showing slow improvement overall, one vaccination trend Dr. Wharton specifically noted is the 7.4 percent decrease in pneumococcal vaccination rate in high-risk adults 19 to 64 years of age. She pointed out that this is not because people are suddenly foregoing this vaccine. Rather, the decrease reflects the recent addition of new risk groups -- namely smokers and people with asthma -- increasing the pool of people who should get the vaccine. Dr. Wharton called on smokers and people with asthma to check with their physicians or other health care providers about this vaccine.

In addition to generally low adult vaccination rates, Dr. Wharton touched on the problem of racial and ethnic vaccination disparities. While strides have been made to close racial and ethnic gaps, some significant vaccination gaps continue to exist among Whites, Blacks and Hispanics.

Vaccine (age and/or risk status)	Non- Hispanic White (%)	Non- Hispanic Black (%)	Hispanic or Latino (%)
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (19-64 years)	51	54	49
Pneumococcal (65 years and older)	65	45	40
Pneumococcal (19-64 years, high risk)	18	18	12
Hepatitis B (19-49 years, high risk)	43	44	37
HPV (19-26 years)	20	13	13
Shingles (60 years and older)	11	4	5
Influenza (65 years and older)	69	51	51
Influenza (50-64 years)	42	37	31

The NHIS survey also reported vaccination rates in health care professionals for influenza (up 7 percent, to 53 percent), hepatitis B (up 2.5 percent, to 65 percent) and Tdap (up 1.6 percent, to 58 percent). "It's gratifying to see health care worker vaccination rates continue to increase," said CDC's Melinda Wharton. "By modeling good preventive care behaviors our health care professionals are truly leading the way as good partners in their relationship with patients." The NHIS vaccination data include anyone employed in a health care occupation or setting. In contrast, physician-only vaccination rates are much higher (>90 percent for influenza) as reported in two separate NFID surveys fielded before and during the current influenza season.

Doctor/patient communication breakdown a factor in low vaccination rates

A dramatic physician-patient communication disconnect was revealed by new data from two NFID surveys. Nearly 90 percent of primary care physicians say they discuss vaccines with their patients, yet in a separate survey of consumers, almost half cannot recall ever discussing vaccines with their physicians. As further evidence of the communication gap between physicians and their patients, 99 percent of physicians say that they or their staff initiates vaccine discussions, but just 44 percent of patients say that is true.

"Busy primary care physicians think they're doing a good job recommending vaccines, but the survey indicates that patients aren't getting the message," suggested Dr. Rehm. "Consumers overwhelmingly said they look to physicians for vaccine recommendations and are likely to act on those recommendations, so it's clear that we physicians need to be more effective in communicating with our patients."

Among the positive findings, consumer familiarity with vaccine-preventable illnesses is rising, although still limited. Familiarity with specific vaccine-preventable diseases rose 4 to 12 percent compared with results from a 2009 survey, with the largest increase for pertussis vaccine. The only vaccine-preventable disease not to register an increase in familiarity is pneumococcal vaccine. Consumers also report that they rarely refuse vaccines if their physicians recommend them.

A realized consequence: disease resurgence

The ongoing pertussis epidemic in California demonstrates the danger still posed by diseases once thought to be gone in the U.S. There are reports of more than 6,400 cases so far in California this year, the most since 1958. While pertussis can affect people of any age and in fact, national rates have been rising in adults, it is the infants who adults pass this on to who bear the burden. Ten infants, all younger than three months, have died from whooping cough in California this year.

Patrick Joseph, M.D., a California infectious disease physician who is NFID's vice president, implored adults to get the one-time booster vaccine, "While the epidemic is in adults, the tragedy is in kids. The situation is grave when babies too young to be immunized are dying."

Dr. Joseph said this crisis means California doesn't have the luxury of bringing people along slowly. The time to increase vaccination rates for pertussis is now. The California Department of Public Health recommends pertussis boosters for all adults, including those over 65, a move supported by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). At its October meeting, ACIP voted to extend pertussis booster vaccination recommendations to include adults 65 and older nationwide.

While California has been hardest hit so far, many other areas have seen increased cases this year, including Ohio, South Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Idaho, upstate New York and the Philadelphia suburbs. Since pertussis knows no boundaries, Dr. Joseph voiced his hope that adults outside his home state would also take notice and seek a Tdap vaccine now to protect themselves and infants around them.

Importance of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines also highlighted

AARP board member Catherine Georges, R.N., Ed.D., reminded adults that the time to get an influenza vaccine is now. "We know it's important for Americans of all ages to go out now and get the flu vaccine, but it's even more critical for people 50-plus," said Dr. Georges, a registered nurse and professor and chair of the department of nursing at Lehman College and the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. "Older Americans are often caring for their children and for older loved ones. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also helps protect your family and friends." Dr. Georges echoed the universal recommendation from CDC for influenza vaccination of all Americans six months and older.

Since pneumococcal infection is an all too frequent complication of influenza, Dr. Georges reminded Americans that, "pneumococcal and influenza vaccines can be given at the same medical visit." Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for everyone 65 and older and for younger adults with certain risk factors or conditions like asthma, smoking, heart disease and diabetes. For most people, pneumococcal is a one-time vaccination.

Alarmingly few Americans immunized against debilitating disease of shingles

The lowest vaccination rate for a routinely recommended vaccine is for the shingles vaccine, which is recommended for everyone starting at age 60. Only ten percent of eligible persons have received the shingles vaccine. Not only does the likelihood of getting shingles increase with age, so does the severity of shingles pain, which can last long after the shingles rash has disappeared (this pain is known as post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN). This pain diminishes quality of life and functional capacity as much as congestive heart failure, a heart attack, type II diabetes or major depression.

Adults in the NFID survey say they are familiar with shingles, but further questioning reveals knowledge gaps; for instance, 42 percent do not know that anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles. Still, adults are aware of the pain of the disease; 55 percent say they "know someone who has had it and it was terrible." Unfortunately, only half of adults even know there is a shingles vaccine available and just 16 percent know it is currently recommended for everyone 60 and older.

"Shingles can be a terribly painful and debilitating disease, particularly in the elderly," said Jeffrey Cohen, M.D., chief of the Laboratory of Infectious Disease at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "Shingles pain can be very difficult to treat. Current therapies are only somewhat effective and often associated with frequent and problematic side effects, especially in older people, which is why it is vitally important that we educate Americans about the vaccine."

Vaccines prevent cancer

"Human papillomavirus (HPV) not only causes cervical cancer, but also a growing portion of head and neck cancers," according to Maura Gillison, M.D., Ph.D, Jeg Coughlin Chair of Cancer Research at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. "Twenty years ago about 40 percent of these cancers were due to HPV; today that number is over 60 percent in the U.S. Even more alarming is that these cancers are happening in younger people without traditional risk factors—smoking and alcohol consumption."

The hepatitis B vaccine also protects against certain cancers. The hepatitis B virus causes 30 percent of all liver cancers in the U.S. and doubles the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Both HPV and hepatitis B viruses are common. An estimated 70 percent of Americans will be infected with HPV in their lifetime and up to 1.4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis B infection.

CDC recommends HPV vaccine for all women 19 to 26 years of age if not previously vaccinated and recommends the hepatitis B vaccine for all sexually active adults who are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship and others in more defined risk groups.

"I urge everyone to get the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines as recommended," said Dr. Gillison. "These vaccines are truly life-saving. As a cancer-specialist, I can tell you that prevention is a far better option than treatment. These are not cancers you want to have or want your kids to have."

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New Survey by Enzymedica Links Autism & Digestion, Suggests Successful Strategies

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. With 1 child in 91 facing the disorder, the diagnosis is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.

“A product containing a full spectrum blend of all enzymes is considered an ideal digestive aid.”

Autism and Digestion: The Surprising Link

A new survey by Enzymedica and the Enzyme Research Group (ERG), links autism and digestive problems, and suggests diet modification and dietary supplements as successful tools for families facing the diagnosis.

While autism is generally considered a neurological disorder, the new survey reminds us that autistic children face additional health challenges, including 80% who report digestive difficulty, sensitivity, or intestinal inflammation.

Survey Participants Tout Special Diets for Autism

Food sensitivities and cravings are widespread in the autism community. The ERG survey found that 35% of children craved sugary treats, 30% dairy, 25% wheat and 32% junk foods; and cravings were not mutually exclusive.

Interestingly, the craved foods also caused the greatest digestive reaction. Lactose, gluten, casein, and phenol were the top reactive contenders in children on the spectrum.

* 70% currently follow, or have tried, a restrictive diet
* 52% gluten-free
* 55% casein-free
* 44% eliminate artificial flavors and additives
* 70% use digestive enzymes or probiotics

Since even healthy foods can cause problems, supplementation can be used to prevent nutritional deficiency. 80% of parents said they offer dietary supplements in some form, typically in combination with a special diet, to soothe and support healthy digestion, and reduce dietary sensitivities.

Healthy Digestion Requires Digestive Enzymes

Our body uses enzymes to enhance digestion and turn the food we eat into energy. Produced throughout the digestive tract, and available from raw foods and supplements, these enzymes include amylase for carbohydrates, lipase for fats, protease for proteins, and cellulase for fiber.

“Many of our children are enzyme deficient,” writes Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D., C.C.N., a board-certified clinical nutritionist in her book, Digestive Wellness for Children. “These deficiencies can play a pivotal role in the development of childhood disease.” Lipski has over 20 years experience working in the field of holistic and complementary medicine and views enzymes as the body’s workhorses.

“In children, enzyme supplements have been used successfully to treat food allergies, gastroenteritis, asthma, and other illnesses, and research on enzymes for children is promising,” she continues.

Like healthy bones and muscle tissue, our enzyme producing organs rely on good nutrition to fuel production. Physical stressors and inflammation are also implicated as a component in compromised enzyme capacity, and these conditions are common with autism.

The ERG researchers found a statistically significant 80% of autistic children experience digestive disturbances related to certain types of food, with dairy topping the list. 57% said dairy is the culprit, and wheat was second in line with 43%.

Autism Breeds Picky Eaters

“Many children on the spectrum are unwilling to eat a sufficient quantity of raw, unprocessed foods,” declares Kristin Selby Gonzalez, Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica, herself the mother of a son with autism. “It’s unfortunate because these healthy foods naturally contain the enzymes and micronutrients needed to support a healthy intestine and aid digestion.”

Taking a daily enzyme supplement can create the foundation of a healthy digestive process,” says Ellen Cutler, D.C., whose Mill Valley, California practice caters to patients with allergies and digestive distress. “A product containing a full spectrum blend of all enzymes is considered an ideal digestive aid.”*

While typical parents may experience difficulty getting growing children to eat their fruits and veggies, consider the behavioral challenges present in some autism diagnoses. Families with autistic children often find mealtime a battleground.

The junk foods and processed snacks craved by many children on the spectrum contain common allergens which cause food sensitivities. These types of foods are hard to digest and are a frequent and familiar source of the constipation and diarrhea autistic children experience.

Science Investigates the Autism / Digestion Link

A 2009 study in Pediatics, described a gene called MET, involved in both brain development and the process of gastrointestinal system repair. The study indicated a genetic variation may contribute to increased risk for autism spectrum disorder that includes familial gastrointestinal dysfunction.

More than 58% of parents, aunts and uncles, 45% of grandparents, and 20% of siblings reported problems in the ERG survey. While still considered controversial, the new survey indicates the familial autism/digestion link may indeed be viable.

Diet and Enzymes Provide Hope

“Given the option, my son would survive on processed snacks and treats like cookies, crackers, chicken nuggets and French fries,” declares Gonzalez. “I’ve learned by keeping them out of his diet and adding enzymes Jaxson behaves better, his attention is more focused, and many of his digestive reactions evaporate.”*

To read the results of the entire survey, please visit www.Enzymedica.com. To learn more about Enzymedica’s commitment to the autism community, visit www.hopeineverybottle.com.

About the Survey:

Enzymedica sponsored the recent survey in association with The Enzyme Research Group. The survey evaluated 143 parents with children on the autism spectrum, surveying their experience with digestive health issues. The survey was conducted online and in anonymous interview and ran from May – June, 2010.

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New National Poll Finds Americans Strongly Opposed to Cutting Medicare Payments for Nursing Home Care as a Means of Financing Health Care Reform

/PRNewswire/ -- As federal lawmakers continue to sound out constituents over the August recess on health care reform, and how best to finance a broad-based overhaul, a new Mellman Group (D) national survey (1000 Registered Voters, 8/21-24, +/- 3%) finds Americans, by significant margins, strongly oppose cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care over other funding options. Underscoring the unpopularity of cutting Medicare-financed nursing home care - now proposed by Congress - the data finds a full 66% of voters less likely to support their local member of Congress for reelection if they voted to cut seniors' Medicare-funded care to finance health care reform, believing that cutting such payments would reduce quality of care.

Says the new Mellman Group poll analysis:

"Voters overwhelmingly oppose cutting Medicare payments to nursing homes as a means of financing healthcare reform, expressing their distaste for this approach in several ways during our brief survey.

First, it is the least popular of the funding options being considered.

Second, cutting Medicare payments to nursing homes is far and away the least acceptable method of financing reform.

Finally, a large majority of voters would feel less favorable toward a Member of Congress who supported such an approach. Voters say they will take out their anger on Members who vote for such nursing home cuts at the ballot box. The reason is straightforward--most Americans believe that cutting such payments will reduce the quality of care seniors receive in nursing homes. While healthcare reform is important to many Americans, Medicare funds for nursing homes are considered off limits as a way to finance reform."

When asked "If Congress cut $32 billion in Medicare payments to nursing homes to care for seniors, do you think the quality of care seniors receive in nursing homes would get better, stay about the same or get worse?" the analysis indicates that, "Seniors are equally concerned, as 78% of those over 65 believe nursing home care will get worse because of such cuts and a majority believe care will get much worse (58%)."

The following are the poll questions and results:

1. Congress is now considering ways to pay for healthcare reform. Which one of the following do you think is the most acceptable way to pay for healthcare reform?

Cutting Medicare payments to nursing homes to care for seniors 3%
Raising taxes on people who make over $250,000 per year 45%

Requiring people to pay taxes on generous healthcare benefits they receive from their employers 6%

Taxing health insurance companies 14%
None 26%
Don't know 6%


2. And which one of the following do you think is the least acceptable way to pay for healthcare reform?

Cutting Medicare payments to nursing homes to care for seniors 49%
Raising taxes on people who make over $250,000 per year 8%

Requiring people to pay taxes on generous healthcare benefits they receive from their employers 14%

Taxing health insurance companies 9%
None 14%
Don't know 6%


3. If Congress cut $32 billion in Medicare payments to nursing homes to care for seniors, do you think the quality of care seniors receive in nursing homes would get better, stay about the same or get worse? [IF BETTER/WORSE ASK]. And is that much [BETTER/WORSE] or only somewhat [BETTER/WORSE]?

Much better 4% 7%
Somewhat better 3%
Stay about the same 11%
Somewhat worse 19%
Much worse 59% 78%
Don't know 4%


4. If your Member of Congress voted to fund healthcare reform in part by cutting $32 billion in Medicare payments to nursing homes to care for seniors would you be __more likely to vote to reelect them, __less likely to vote to reelect them or would it not make much difference to your vote? [IF MORE/ LESS LIKELY ASK:] Is that much [MORE/LESS] or somewhat [MORE/LESS] likely?

Much more likely 5% 7%
Somewhat more likely 2%
No difference 20%
Somewhat less likely 17%
Much less likely 49% 66%
Don't know 6%


"From the results of this objective, timely and highly significant national survey, it is abundantly clear the public, to its credit, harbors strong antipathy to slashing Medicare beneficiaries' nursing home benefits to finance any broader reform package," stated Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA. "We strongly support the laudable objective of the Obama Administration and Congress to expand Americans' access to care, and help bring down health care costs. However, we will continue to warn both on Capitol Hill and at the local level how and why the $32 billion Medicare cuts now under consideration will not only harm seniors' ongoing access to quality nursing home care, but also jeopardize the jobs of the key frontline caregivers who make a significant difference in patients' care outcomes."

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Immunization Rates Remain Stable at High Levels Among the Nation′s 19- Through 35-Month-Old Children

Childhood immunization rates in the United States remain stable at high levels, according to data from CDC′s 2008 National Immunization Survey (NIS) published in this week′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

“Vaccination is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children′s health,” said Dr. Melinda Wharton, Deputy Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Thanks to the hard work of doctors and nurses and other immunization providers and the commitment of parents, rates are still high, but we must all continue to work hard to reach those children who are not fully vaccinated.”

The 2008 NIS included children aged 19–35 months and born during January 2005–June 2007.

Among these children, coverage was 76.1 percent with the 4:3:1:3:3:1 series of vaccines, not a statistically significant difference from the 2007 estimate of 77.4 percent. The national goal for coverage with the 4:3:1:3:3:1 series is 80 percent.

Vaccines in the series are:

* Four or more doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
* Three or more doses of polio vaccine
* One or more doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR)
* Three or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib)
* Three or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine
* One or more doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

For each vaccine in the series, the goal is 90 percent and this was met, except for four doses of DTaP vaccine, which was 84.6 percent.

The 2008 NIS data showed a small but statistically significant decrease nationally for coverage with the Hib vaccine. In 2007, coverage with three or more doses of Hib was 92.6 percent and in 2008 coverage was 90.9 percent. This decrease is likely due to a shortage of the vaccine that began in December 2007 and a temporary recommendation to defer the booster dose. At least 8 percent of the children in the survey were likely impacted by this recommendation. More vaccine became available this summer, and the booster dose is now being recommended again for children at age 12–15 months.

In 2008, coverage with three or more doses of doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) increased from 90.0 percent to 92.8 percent and coverage with four or more doses increased from 75.3 percent to 80.1 percent.

As in previous years, estimated vaccination coverage levels varied substantially among states and local areas. 4:3:1:3:3:1 state coverage ranged from 59.2 percent in Montana to 82.3 percent in Massachusetts. Coverage also varied among the 17 local areas surveyed, from 68.5 percent in Northern California to 80.9 percent Santa Clara County, Calif.

This is the first NIS report to include coverage for two or more doses of hepatitis A vaccine, which was 40.4 percent. This report also includes coverage among newborns with the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, which was 55.3 percent, an increase from 53.2 percent in 2007.

The proportion of children who had received no vaccine doses remained at 0.06 percent.

Among racial/ethnic groups, little variation in coverage was observed. Coverage for most vaccines remained lower for children living below poverty than children living at or above poverty. Sustaining high coverage levels and finding effective methods of reducing disparities across states/local areas and income groups remains a priority to fully protect children and limit the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States.

The NIS is an ongoing random-digit dialed survey of households with children aged 19-35 months. It also includes a mail survey of the children′s vaccination providers to collect vaccination information. During 2008, 18,430 children with provider-reported vaccination records were included in this report.

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Employers Support Non-Payment for Hospital-Acquired Infections

/PRNewswire/ -- The non-profit Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) released the results of a survey of employers and health care industry stakeholders on their knowledge and intentions to improve the safety and quality of health care by no longer paying for "never events" - serious and costly preventable hospital errors and hospital-acquired infections. The findings were presented at a meeting of key health care industry stakeholders including public and private employers, hospitals, health plans, doctors, consumer organizations and government hosted by MBGH in Chicago last week.

"There are currently several separate efforts taking place in our community aimed at reducing hospital-acquired conditions," said Larry Boress, president and CEO of the MBGH. "We invited key stakeholders to come together for an in depth discussion on "never events" in the hopes that we can bring continuity to these efforts and make faster progress toward improving the safety and quality of health care for everyone."

Survey findings
-- More than 60 percent of employers believed they should pay for
conditions that arose after the covered patient was admitted to a
hospital, if the facility was not at fault.
-- However, once employers became aware that Medicare had identified
conditions which should never happen to a patient and will not pay for
services related to such situations, close to 80 percent of health
care purchasers agreed that their health plans should adopt the same
payment policies as Medicare related to those conditions.
-- Nearly 100 percent of employer respondents indicated hospitals should
refrain from billing patients for services not paid for by their
benefits for events that experts say should not happen in a hospital.
-- Sixty-eight percent of employers agreed that MBGH should bring
together plans, hospitals, employers, consumer and government agencies
to define and address as a community what conditions hospitals should
focus on from the "never events" and Medicare hospital-acquired
conditions lists.


MBGH is a Regional Roll-Out Leader for The Leapfrog Group and is actively involved in hospital performance and public reporting efforts in Chicago, including the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. A section of this survey addresses 28 serious preventable errors or "never events" as set forth by the National Quality Forum (NQF). Currently, less than 47 percent of hospitals in Illinois participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey have agreed to meet the Leapfrog "never events" policy. Efforts are also being looked at by national groups to consider payment policies that refrain from paying for such events in physicians' offices.

"Most small- and mid-size employers are unaware of the impact of "never events" to their growing costs for health care," said Joseph Balasa, chief operating officer for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "We are looking to the large employers, hospitals and health plans to make progress in solving this problem so the entire community can benefit from improved quality and safety of health care."

MBGH's survey and the meeting were supported by sanofi-aventis. The survey was submitted electronically, with more than 50 employers and other health care stakeholders responding. More than 160 people participated in the meeting.

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Emergency Physicians Reveal Strategies for Improving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates in the U.S.

PRNewswire/ -- A new State of Resuscitation survey released today by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) finds an overwhelming majority (90 percent) of the emergency physicians surveyed believe that resuscitation practices in the United States are not very effective. Emergency physicians cite increased bystander CPR, faster patient-to-doctor time, improved data collection and sharing, and greater use of technology as critical to improving resuscitation for victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

"While we've made significant advances to improve resuscitation efforts, more needs to be done. The State of Resuscitation survey offers valuable insights on how we can build upon already existing practices, including increasing public involvement and implementing technology to help save more lives," said Dr. Nick Jouriles, president of ACEP. "The results clearly show that it is necessary for communities to encourage more CPR trainings, offer more access to a broader range of critical life-saving technologies, and report sudden cardiac arrest cases more consistently."

The survey shows that 9 out of 10 respondents (88 percent) consider bystander intervention an important factor to increase survival. Other factors viewed as having a positive impact on survival rates include faster patient-to-doctor time (77 percent), data collection and sharing (73 percent), automated technologies (66 percent), and real-time feedback on compressions (65 percent).

"The optimal treatment of patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest requires a well-coordinated system of community members, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department, cardiology and critical care services," said Arthur B. Sanders, M.D., professor of emergency medicine at University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. "Community programs include early access to the EMS system and training citizens in CPR. Over the past decade there have been important advances in the science of resuscitation. Unfortunately, implementation of the scientific advances has lagged in many communities. This survey reinforces the need to provide more education about CPR including the teaching of hands-only CPR. It also highlights the need for communities to monitor their survival data and implement changes that can improve all aspects of the system of care that can result in improved survival from SCA."

Survey Findings

Conducted in September 2008, the State of Resuscitation survey suggests that almost all emergency physicians (94 percent) believe that a patient in sudden cardiac arrest is more likely to survive if a CPR-trained bystander administers CPR before professional rescuers arrive. In addition, more than half believe the length of time between patient collapse and first responder arrival is an important factor in determining the success of resuscitation efforts.

The survey also suggests that an overwhelming majority (89 percent) of emergency physicians feel that technology will play an increasingly important role in resuscitation over the next five years. Eighty-four percent note that emerging technologies/therapies are important in treating sudden cardiac arrest. Only one in four considers automated chest compression devices important, despite research that indicates their positive impact.

Other important findings include:

-- Approximately 3 out of 10 respondents say CPR feedback devices would
have the greatest impact on improving the quality of CPR.

-- More than half the respondents believe that poor survival rates from
sudden cardiac arrest is related to the aging population, while
one-quarter of respondents believe that obesity has contributed most
to poor survival rates.

-- Efforts to teach citizens CPR are scattered, and often, non-existent.
Not surprisingly, the respondents want civic leaders to be more
engaged in this issue.


The online survey was commissioned by ACEP and conducted by Saperstein Associates, Inc., an independent opinion research company. ZOLL Medical Corporation sponsored the survey. A total of 1,056 questionnaires were completed by ACEP members in selected membership sections. The study has a margin of error no greater than +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.

ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 27,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

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