Penthouse address can cause death

People living on the upper floors of high-rises are far more likely to die from a cardiac arrest than those on the lower levels. Photo / Supplied

With its panoramic views and seclusion, the penthouse has long been associated with wealth and prestige, but a new study suggests it could actually be the death of its inhabitants.

People living on the upper floors of high-rises are far more likely to die from a cardiac arrest - caused usually by a heart attack - than those on the lower levels.

And the reason is simply that paramedics cannot get to the top floors quickly enough to use defibrillators or give life-saving medication in the event of heart problems.

A study which looked at people living in Toronto's city centre found that the death rate for people living above floor 16 was nearly five times higher than those with flats on the second floor or below.

There were no survivors at all above the 25th floor.

The academics are calling for defibrillators to be installed on the higher floors of high-rises, and for paramedics to be given access to universal keys, which are carried by fire brigades, so they can quickly access lifts.

The team looked at more than 8000 adults who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest which was treated by paramedics in the City of Toronto and environs from January 2007 to 2012.

For those people who lived on the second floor or below the rate of surviving until they could be discharged was 4.2 per cent.

But for those above it fell to 2.6 per cent. And for people on the 16th floor or higher it fell to 0.9 per cent. Nobody survived above the 25th floor.

The researchers are encouraging members of the public to try heart massage or a defibrillator.

The research was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.