Association of High-Volume Centers With Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Nontraumatic Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

IMPORTANCE: Although high volume of cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a key feature of cardiac arrest centers, which have proven survival benefit, the role of center volume as an independent variable associated with improved outcomes is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of high-volume centers with survival and neurological outcomes in nontraumatic OHCA. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to October 11, 2021, for studies including adult patients with nontraumatic OHCA who were treated at high-volume vs non–high-volume centers. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials, nonrandomized studies of interventions, prospective cohort studies, and retrospective cohort studies were selected that met the following criteria: (1) adult patients with OHCA of nontraumatic etiology, (2) comparison of high-volume with low-volume centers, (3) report of a volume-outcome association, and (4) report of outcomes of interest. At least 2 authors independently reviewed each article, blinded to each other’s decision. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data abstraction and quality assessment were independently conducted by 2 authors. Meta-analyses were performed for adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and crude ORs using a random-effects model. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survival and good neurological outcomes according to the Cerebral Performance Categories Scale at hospital discharge or 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies involving 82 769 patients were included. Five studies defined high volume as 40 or more cases of OHCA per year; 3 studies defined high volume as greater than 100 cases of OHCA per year. All other studies differed in definitions. Survival to discharge or 30 days improved with treatment at high-volume centers, regardless of whether aORs (1.28 [95% CI, 1.00-1.64]) or crude ORs (1.43 [95% CI, 1.09-1.87]) were pooled. There was no association between center volume and good neurological outcomes at 30 days or hospital discharge in patients with OHCA (aOR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.77-1.20]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this meta-analysis and systematic review, care at high-volume centers was associated with improved survival outcomes, even after adjustment for potential confounders, but was not associated with improved neurological outcomes for patients with nontraumatic OHCA. More studies evaluating the relative importance of center volume compared with other variables (eg, the availability of treatment modalities) associated with survival outcomes in patients with OHCA are required.