Australia Plans to Create the Largest Registry of Cardiac Arrest Deaths in the World
Scientists are hoping to discover the causes of cardiac arrests and how to prevent them. Australian health scientists are in the process of establishing the world’s largest registry of sudden cardiac arrest deaths in an effort to unravel the mysteries behind this cardiovascular condition. The project, which is being carried out by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute with support from the Heart Foundation, will combine and analyze data from two large cardiac arrest databases to create a new super-registry called CODEX-SD.
The researchers aim to unravel the genetic mysteries behind cardiac arrests to figure out what causes them and how to prevent them. A cardiac arrest is classified as a medical emergency and occurs when a person’s heart suddenly stops pumping, preventing blood from flowing to the brain and other vital organs. It can occur anywhere and at any time, often resulting in death if not appropriately treated.
According to the Heart Foundation, around 25,000 Australians experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, and in 30 to 40 percent of cases, doctors cannot explain what caused the condition.
Surge in Cardiac Arrest Cases in Victoria
The Heart Foundation’s announcement comes following a surge in cardiac arrest cases in the state of Victoria. According to the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR) Annual Report (pdf), there were 7,361 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidents in the state during the 2021-2022 financial year, the highest figure ever recorded in history, up 5.8 percent from the previous year. The increase in cardiac arrest incidents has raised concerns due to the typically low survival rate associated with the condition.
Potential Link Between COVID-19 Vaccines and Cardiac Arrests
In 2022, a study revealed a surge in emergency calls related to cardiac arrest and acute coronary syndrome among individuals aged 16 to 39 in Israel, associated with COVID-19 vaccine administration. The researchers raised concerns about undetected severe cardiovascular side effects induced by vaccines and highlighted the established causal relationship between vaccines and myocarditis, a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young people.
Ellen Wan contributed to this article.