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Cardiac (non-arrest)

12-lead transmission lags equipment availability

Nationwide Survey of Prehospital 12‑lead Electrocardiogram Recording and Transmission in Japan: Equipment Availability Is No Longer the Major Barrier
Journal of Cardiology · 2026-10-07 · Added 9 October 2026

A national survey of 588 of Japan's 723 fire departments found 92.7% had at least partial 12-lead ECG recording capability but only 9.7% routinely recorded and transmitted, with chest pain/ACS protocols — not equipment — the strongest driver of transmission uptake.

Study type

Cross-sectional

Design

National cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Participants

588 of 723 Japanese fire departments (81.3% response)

Main finding

545/588 (92.7%) had at least partial recording equipment but only 57 (9.7%) routinely recorded and transmitted; ACS/chest pain protocols (OR 2.89) and routine recording (OR 2.88) predicted transmission adoption; uptake higher where only one PCI-capable hospital existed (46% vs 30%)

Caveat

Self-report survey in a Japanese EMS system with a very different dispatch and medical-control structure

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Update my knowledge of current evidence in cardiac care.

More

• Topic: Cardiac (non-arrest)
• Daily scan: 9 October 2026

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