Cost-effectiveness of Automated External Defibrillators on Airlines

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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 studies10,11 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