Bystander CPR rates are reported for three ethnic groups living in Los Angeles – African Americans, Latinos, and Caucasians – based on data from the Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Evaluation in Los Angeles (CARE-LA) database as well as the California Death Statistical Master File (CDSMF). Available information included location, race/ethnicity/ethnic background, witnessed status, socioeconomic status, and other variables that have previously been associated with differing rates of bystander CPR. The study group consisted of 814 individuals (53% Caucasian, 28% African American, 19% Latino). African Americans and Latinos were younger than the Caucasians, had more events in the home and had a bystander CPR rate of 13% versus 24% for the Caucasians (OR 50.47 for African Americans and OR 50.48 for the Latinos). Bystander CPR was an independent predictor of survival to hospital discharge and, after adjusting for other variables, Latinos in Los Angeles receive bystander CPR at approximately half the rate of Caucasians (OR 0.45).
