Hungarian medical societies urge improved CPR and defibrillator access

The Hungarian Society of Cardiology (MKT) and the Hungarian Resuscitation Council (MRT) have emphasized that bystander CPR and accessible defibrillator networks are critical to combating sudden cardiac death. During a Heart Day event, the organizations stated that survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Hungary could be significantly improved through enhanced public first aid training, strategic placement of automated external defibrillators (AED), and accurate registration of these devices.

Coronary artery disease is identified as the most common cause of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. While the average age of those affected is approximately 70 and 65 percent are male, the condition also affects younger individuals and athletes. Experts noted that every minute of delay in defibrillation reduces survival chances by 3 to 6 percent, and irreversible brain damage can occur after just five minutes of circulatory arrest.

Data highlights a disparity in outcomes: in Denmark, bystander CPR rates rose from 18 percent to 60 percent between 2001 and 2013, more than doubling 30-day survival rates. In contrast, a Hungarian study covering approximately 130,000 cases between 2018 and 2023 showed a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate of only 9.1 percent.