Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): A Scoping Review

Abstract

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a major public health concern worldwide, with outcomes varying greatly between regions. This scoping review explores the current evidence on OHCA within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—where survival outcomes have historically remained lower than international benchmarks. Relevant studies on OHCA in GCC populations were identified through a comprehensive search of major electronic databases and reference lists. This review synthesizes findings related to patient demographics, bystander response, emergency medical services (EMS) performance, and system-level challenges. The evidence reveals significant regional gaps in the early links of the chain of survival, particularly concerning bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, public access to automated external defibrillators, and EMS response integration. Contributing factors include limited public training, legal barriers to bystander intervention, and the absence of unified cardiac arrest registries. Despite these challenges, several countries have initiated national data collection systems and pilot programs aimed at improving prehospital care and outcomes. Lessons from international models demonstrate that coordinated community engagement, dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and national registry development can significantly improve survival rates. This review underscores the urgent need for a GCC-wide collaboration to establish standardized OHCA registries, strengthen public awareness, and integrate evidence-based interventions to enhance survival and neurological outcomes following cardiac arrest in the region.