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Background The burden of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) on different population segments in developing countries is not well studied. Previous studies from Lebanon report poor survival to hospital discharge (4.8%‐5.5%). This study describes characteristics and outcomes of young OHCA victims in Beirut, Lebanon Methods This retrospective observational study included young patients (<35 years of age) with OHCA admitted to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care center in Lebanon over a 10‐year period. Results Fifty‐four patients with OHCA were identified. Most were males (74.1%, n = 40) and the mean age was 17.9 ± 10.9 years. The most common arrest location was home (44.4%, n = 24). The majority were witnessed (78.8%, n = 41) with 15.4% (n = 8) witnessed by emergency medical services (EMS). Prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation was done for 22 patients (41.5%) mostly by EMS (n = 19, 86.4%), 9.1% (n = 2) by a bystander, and 4.5% (n = 1) by a family member. Prehospital automated external defibrillator use was documented in 13% (n = 7) of cases. Most patients (n = 48, 88.9%) were resuscitated in the ED where the most common rhythm was asystole (55.6%, n = 30). Half of the patients (50%, n = 27) survived to hospital admission. Overall survival to hospital discharge was 16.7% (n = 9). Good neurologic outcome (cerebral performance category 1 or 2) was documented in seven patients (9.3%). Conclusion Survival rate of young OHCA victims in Lebanon (16.7%) is higher than previously reported rates of OHCA in the overall population. Targeted community activities and medical oversight of EMS activities are needed to link EMS activities to clinical outcomes.

In risk-stratifying patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), physicians rely heavily on clinical parameters that provide risk scores and determine treatment strategies. There has been increasing research on potential biomarkers in the blood that could more accurately determine both risk of complications in AF and risk of incidence of AF. This review highlights the clinical significance of 5 novel biomarkers that have been shown to be linked to AF. These biomarkers are carbohydrate antigen 125, galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15, a member of the interleukin 1 receptor family, IL1RL1 (ST2), and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide.

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