Study Details Optimal CPR Speed, Depth

By Kelly Young

Edited by William E. Chavey, MD, MS, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Functional outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are optimal when CPR is done at a rate of 107 compressions per minute and a depth of 4.7 centimeters, according to a JAMA Cardiology study. The American Heart Association says it is reasonable to aim for 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of 5 to 6 cm.

Researchers studied 3600 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who had their CPR compressions measured. Survival was higher when CPR was performed within 20% of the optimal compression speed and depth (86–128 compressions per minute; 3.8–5.6-cm depth). Survival was 6.0% inside the preferred range and 4.3% outside this range. Over half of the patients received CPR outside the preferred range.

A commentator concludes: "Given that the 20% window around the identified optimal combination largely overlaps with current international recommendations for rate and depth, emergency medical services systems that opt to implement the proposed combination now, prior to validation, are likely acting reasonably. While the findings ... are unlikely to lead to a change in international CPR guidelines on their own, they do support the simplest CPR mantra: push hard, push fast, and do not stop."

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated the AHA's latest CPR recommendations.