Cost-effectiveness of Automated External Defibrillators on Airlines

Abstract

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest claims the lives of approximately 275 000 persons each year in the United States.^1,2 Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) improve the low-survival rates from cardiac arrest when operated by trained emergency personnel.^3-9 Recent studies^10,11 have emphasized the effectiveness of AEDs in improving survival when used by trained laypersons in casinos and commercial aircraft, with survival rates substantially higher than those achieved by emergency responders.¹² However, AEDs are costly, in terms of equipment, maintenance, and training, so it is unclear whether they represent an efficient use of health care resources.^13,14 Cost-effectiveness analysis can lend insight into which settings are the most strategic for AED deployment.¹⁵