Maybe it's time to think about moving

[Scooter]

I have said for a long time that this is the home I will live in until I die. That may turn out to be a lot more likely than I thought:

Cardiac arrests happen most often at home. Researchers knew that. What they didn't know, until now, is this: If your home is a highrise, the higher your floor, the lower your chance of survival.

A new study published on Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal examined five years of health data from the City of Toronto and Peel Regions — areas selected because of high population density. Specifically, researchers wanted to see how "vertical delay" affects matters of life and death.

Researchers at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital examined nearly 8,000 cases of cardiac arrest between 2006 and 2011 that occurred in private residences, including highrises, houses and townhomes. Those who lived on the ground or second floor fared best in the study. The data showed 4.2 per cent of them survived to hospital discharge. Survival dipped to 2.6 per cent for patients on or above the third floor. Above the 16th floor (that's me!!), the survival rate was "negligible" — less than one per cent. The statistics are most grim, though, for the 30 patients who went into cardiac arrest on or above the 25th floor.

"They all died," said Dr. Laurie Morrison, a scientist at St. Michael's Hospital and one of the study's authors. "It's like the higher you go the more isolated you become."

It's a stark finding in a city that has seen a 13-per-cent increase in highrise living recently. More than 40 per cent of homeowners over the age of 65 live in multistory condos or apartment buildings.

"As more highrise buildings are built, in response to the demand for affordable condominium and rental properties," the study noted, "the negative impact on community survival may increase."

Researchers ruled out the presence of "toxic neighbourhoods" as a factor that might have impacted results. No single geographic or socioeconomic area captured in the study stood out.

"It doesn't matter whether you're poor, middle class or high class, it's just the vertical that makes a difference," said Morrison, who is also director of Rescu — a group that studies out-of-hospital emergency health care. Rescu is part of the Rescue Outcomes Consortium, or ROC, a multinational research collaboration of 10 sites across the United States and Canada, studying how promising new tools and treatments can improve survival rates among people who suffer cardiac arrest or life-threatening traumatic injury.

The study's lead author Ian Drennan, a paramedic with York Region Paramedic Services, is familiar with barriers to life-saving care at condos and apartments.

"Building access issues, elevator delays and extended distance from the emergency vehicle to the patient can all contribute to longer times for 911-initiated first responders to reach the patient and start time-sensitive, potentially life-saving resuscitation," he said.

Survival rates decrease 7 to 10 per cent with every one-minute delay to defibrillation, the study notes.

"Time is life," Morrison said.

[Gob]

I live in a bungalow, thanks for the good news

[MajGenl.Meade]

Me too, Gob!

Maybe the high rise people should try the elevator or the stairs instead of taking the outside route while pushing a child up the wall?

[MG McAnick]

I've always figured that the best places to have a cardiac arrest and a myocardial infarction is in hospitals. Those who have known me since LCH don't have to ask me why.

[Sue U]

Hmm, I'm planning my retirement living in a high-rise building; now I'll be sure to avoid Toronto and the Peel region, and stick with Philadelphia. Thanks for the warning!

[oldr_n_wsr]

Single story house is what I have. Basement workshop is only 8 steps (maybe nine or ten, I forget) away.
If climbing the steps gets to be too much, I'll get one of those stair-master thingies. or just lay down and die

[RayThom]

Hmm, I'm planning my retirement living in a high-rise building... stick with Philadelphia...

Many Murano residents seem quite pleased with their condo choice. It still has a few "professionally" priced units to chose from. On the 4th of July the fireworks view is one of the best.

[Sue U]

The Murano is a nice building but I'm not crazy about the neighborhood -- a bit too empty after 5. I'd prefer to be at least a few blocks south of Market St. I still haven't settled on a particular neighborhood, and might even go Manayunk or Germantown, or possibly Bella Vista/East Passyunk. I've got a few years to figure it out.

[Guinevere]

See, in Paris there are no high rises. So I'm all set.

[Sue U]

FFS, Guin, now I have to re-calculate!

[Guinevere]

I'm telling you, come to France!

[oldr_n_wsr]

You mean there is nowhere to stay at the top of the Eiffel tower?
Well that does it, no Paris for me.

[Bicycle Bill]

You mean there is nowhere to stay at the top of the Eiffel tower?
Well that does it, no Paris for me.

Actually, oldr, there is!

-"BB"-

[oldr_n_wsr]

Now I'll go, can I book that room on expedia?

[rubato]

Living in a high-rise increases the chance that you get to die at home.


Cool.


I can probably get the same effect by locking the deadbolt.


yrs,
rubato

[rubato]

I'm telling you, come to France!

I'd love to live there for 1/2 of the year in retirement.



yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

It's my plan, down the road. And the Swede has a soft spot for France, so I think I might be able to convince him to follow me over.

[Gob]

We'll come visit you in France, you can come and visit our Cornish cottage!