The Alarming Trend of Cardiac Arrest in Chicago: A Closer Look at Younger Victims and the Importance of CPR Education
In a recent study led by the University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois Heart Rescue, a concerning trend has emerged: the mean age of individuals in Chicago experiencing fatal heart attacks outside of hospital settings is decreasing, particularly among Black men. This study, a pioneering effort at a community level, analyzed over 21,000 cases from Chicago Emergency Medical Services spanning 2014 to 2021. The findings revealed a drop in the average age from 64.7 during 2014-15 to 62.7 in 2020-21, with the most significant declines observed in Black male adults.