The importance of physical fitness in the performance of adequate cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the influence of the p hysical fitness of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provider on the pe rformance of and physiologic response to CPR. To this end, comparisons were made of sedentary and physically active subjects in terms of CPR performan ce and physiologic variables. Two study groups were established: group P (n = 14), composed of physically active, nonexperienced subjects (age, 34 +/- 6 years; (V) over dot O(2)max, 32.5 +/- 5.5 mL/kg/min), and group Ex (n = 14), composed of physically active, nonexperienced subjects (age, 34 +/- 6 years; (V) over dot O(2)max, 44.5 +/- 8.5 mL/kg/min). Each subject was requ ired to perform an 18-min CPR session, which involved manual external cardi ac compressions (ECCs) on an electronic teaching mannequin following accept ed standard CPR guidelines. Subjects' gas exchange parameters and heart rat es (HRs) were monitored throughout the trial. Variables indicating the adeq uacy of the ECCs (ECC depth and the percentage of incorrect compressions an d hand placements) also were determined. Overall CPR performance was simila r in both groups. The indicators of ECC adequacy fell within accepted limit s (ie, an ECC depth between 38 and 51 mm). However, fatigue prevented four subjects from group P from completing the trial. In contrast, the physiolog ic responses to CPR differed between groups. The indicators of the intensit y of effort during the trial, such as HR or percentage of maximum oxygen up take ((V) over dot O(2)max) were higher in group P subjects than group Ex s ubjects, respectively (HRs at the end of the trial, 139 +/- 22 vs 115 +/- 1 7 beats/min, p < 0.01; percentage of (V) over dot O(2)max after 12 min of C PR, 46.7 +/- 9.7% vs 37.2 +/- 10.4%, p < 0.05). These results suggest that a certain level of physical fitness may be beneficial to CPR providers to e nsure the adequacy of chest compressions performed during relatively long p eriods of cardiac arrest.