A new study led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center reveals that survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Black and Hispanic communities experiencing the steepest declines.
Before March 2020, OHCA survival rates had been improving. But by 2020, overall survival had fallen to 9%. In majority Black and Hispanic communities, survival dropped by 16.5%, compared to 8.1% in predominantly white communities and 6.5% in integrated areas. These disparities persisted through 2022.
The study analyzed data from over 500,000 OHCA patients served by more than 1,300 emergency medical service agencies. Survival rates were lowest in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods (7.9%), compared to 11.1% in predominantly white communities.
Dr. Saket Girotra, senior author and associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern, pointed to the rise in opioid overdoses during the pandemic as one contributing factor. He emphasized the need for EMS agencies to identify and share best practices to improve outcomes across all communities.
The findings underscore how the pandemic exacerbated existing racial and ethnic disparities in emergency care. As the nation continues to recover, researchers stress the importance of targeted interventions to close these survival gaps and ensure equitable access to life-saving treatment.
See “Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival drops during COVID-19 with racial disparities” (May 30, 2025)