Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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To evaluate whether subgroups of patients with no chance of survival can be defined among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Among patients who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were found in a non-shockable rhythm the following factors were associated with a low chance of survival: no bystander CPR, non-witnessed cardiac arrest, the arrest took place at home, increasing interval between call for and arrival of ambulance, and increasing age. When these factors were considered simultaneously, groups with no survivors could be defined. In such groups the ambulance crew may refrain from starting CPR.