Repository logo
 

Automated external defibrillator location and socioeconomic deprivation in Great Britain.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

No Thumbnail Available

Type

Article

Change log

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The early use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) improves outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We investigated AED access across Great Britain (GB) according to socioeconomic deprivation. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study using AED location data from The Circuit: the national defibrillator network led by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, Resuscitation Council UK and St John Ambulance. We calculated street network distances between all 1 677 466 postcodes in GB and the nearest AED and used a multilevel linear mixed regression model to investigate associations between the distances from each postcode to the nearest AED and Index of Multiple Deprivation, stratified by country and according to 24 hours 7 days a week (24/7) access. RESULTS: 78 425 AED locations were included. Across GB, the median distance from the centre of a postcode to an AED was 726 m (England: 739 m, Scotland: 743 m, Wales: 512 m). For 24/7 access AEDs, the median distances were further (991 m, 994 m, 570 m). In Wales, the average distance to the nearest AED and 24/7 AED was shorter for the most deprived communities. In England, the average distance to the nearest AED was also shorter in the most deprived areas. There was no association between deprivation and average distance to the nearest AED in Scotland. However, the distance to the nearest 24/7 AED was greater with increased deprivation in England and Scotland. On average, a 24/7 AED was in England and Scotland, respectively, 99.2 m and 317.1 m further away in the most deprived than least deprived communities. CONCLUSION: In England and Scotland, there are differences in distances to the nearest 24/7 accessible AED between the most and least deprived communities. Equitable access to 'out-of-hours' accessible AEDs may improve outcomes for people with OHCA.

Description

Keywords

PUBLIC HEALTH, Humans, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, United Kingdom, Cross-Sectional Studies, Defibrillators, Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Socioeconomic Factors, Emergency Medical Services

Journal Title

Heart

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1355-6037
1468-201X

Volume Title

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_UU_00006/7)
TB was supported by the Medical Research Council (grant number MC_UU_00006/7). JW was supported by Barts Charity (MGU0504). The research was independent of the funders, who had no role in the research itself or the decision to submit the manuscript. There were no study sponsors.