Energy Drinks Linked to Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Patients with Genetic Heart Diseases: Study

Energy drinks, known for their highly stimulating and unregulated ingredients, can significantly alter heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac contractility, and cardiac repolarization. These alterations can lead to a proarrhythmic state, potentially triggering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Despite these concerns, there is limited data on the incidence of SCA following energy drink consumption, particularly in patients with genetic heart conditions.

The purpose of this study was to describe instances of SCA occurring in proximity to energy drink consumption among patients with known genetic heart diseases. The study reviewed the electronic medical records of 144 SCA survivors with proven arrhythmias referred to the Mayo Clinic for evaluation. Researchers identified patients who had consumed an energy drink before their SCA event and gathered data on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and the temporal relationship between energy drink consumption and SCA.

• Among the 144 SCA survivors, 7 patients (5%) experienced SCA in proximity to energy drink consumption. The mean age at the time of SCA was 29 ± 8 years, and 6 of these patients were female.

• 2 patients had long QT syndrome, 2 had catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and 3 were diagnosed with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

• 3 patients (43%) were regular consumers of energy drinks.

• 6 patients (86%) required a rescue shock, while 1 patient (14%) was resuscitated manually.

• All SCA survivors ceased energy drink consumption and have remained event-free since.

The study's findings underscore the potential risks of energy drink consumption in individuals with genetic heart diseases. Although the cohort was small, the temporal association between energy drink intake and SCA in these patients is concerning. The regular consumption patterns observed in nearly half of the cases further highlight the need for caution.

Overall, 5% of SCA survivors experienced an event in proximity to consuming an energy drink. Given these findings, it seems prudent to issue an early warning regarding the potential risks of energy drinks, especially for individuals with genetic heart diseases. Larger cohort studies are necessary to better understand the incidence and prevalence of this risk and to quantify its precise impact.

Reference:

Martinez, K. A., Bains, S., Neves, R., Giudicessi, J. R., Bos, J. M., & Ackerman, M. J. (2024). Sudden cardiac arrest occurring in temporal proximity to consumption of energy drinks. Heart Rhythm: The Official Journal of the Heart Rhythm Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.02.018