According to a new investigation the song “Disco Science” is better than no music at all in helping to administer the required number of chest compressions (CPR) to save an individual’s life following a heart attack prior to arriving at the hospital. The study was published online in Emergency Medicine Journal. However the song, which featured in the soundtrack to Guy Ritchie’s film Snatch in 2000, doesn’t improve the depth of compression. According to the researchers it’s time to give up trying to find the perfect song to help the procedure.

In the UK the annual prevalence of heart attacks occurring outside hospital for individuals aged under 76 years is 123 per 100,000 of the population. Evidence has revealed that starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as soon as possible considerably improves survival and can almost triple discharge rates.

However, the search for the best music track to aid the procedure has continued due to evidence showing that CRP is frequently done badly, even when performed by trained healthcare professionals.

In the U.S. the song Staying Alive by The Bee Gees has been advocated as a suitable track, while in the UK the children’s song Nellie the Elephant is believed to be the best track.

The researchers say it has since been discredited as it doesn’t help give the correct compression depth of 4 to 6cm even though it helps maintain a compression rate of 100 a minute.

In order to see whether songs were more helpful than no music at all, researchers compared Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus, or Disco Science by Mirwais, with no music at all.

74 representatives who attended an Australian College of Ambulance Professionals conference in Auckland, New Zealand, voluntarily performed CPR on a training dummy. Approximately half of participants had received CPR training in the last year.

35% of participants were intensive care paramedics, 20% were students, 26% were paramedics and 19% were other healthcare professionals.

The researchers discovered that 82% of volunteers listening to Disco Science managed to maintain compressions within the optimal range of 100 to 120 a minute, compared with 64% who listened to Achy Breaky Heart, or 65% who listened to no music at all. Although regardless of which method was used, over a third of compressions were still too shallow and incorrect hand position was seen for over half to two thirds of all completed compressions.

The researchers conclude:

“When considering the combined importance of correct depth and rate, the authors are unconvinced that music provides any benefit in improving the quality of CPR compared with a metronome or audible feedback, suggesting that this is interesting but unproductive area of resuscitation research should be discontinued.”

Written by Grace Rattue