Sudden cardiac arrest occurring in temporal proximity to consumption of energy drinks

Background: Energy drinks potentially can trigger life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. It has been postulated that the highly stimulating and unregulated ingredients alter heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac contractility, and cardiac repolarization in a potentially proarrhythmic manner.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience regarding sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurring in proximity to energy drink consumption in patients with underlying genetic heart diseases.

Methods: The electronic medical records of all SCA survivors with proven arrhythmias referred to the Mayo Clinic Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic for evaluation were reviewed to identify those who consumed an energy drink before their event. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, documented energy drink consumption, and temporal relationship of energy drink consumption to SCA were obtained.

Results: Among 144 SCA survivors, 7 (5%; 6 female; mean age at SCA 29 ± 8 years) experienced an unexplained SCA associated temporally with energy drink consumption. Of these individuals, 2 had long QT syndrome and 2 had catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; the remaining 3 were diagnosed with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. Three patients (43%) consumed energy drinks regularly. Six patients (86%) required a rescue shock, and 1 (14%) was resuscitated manually. All SCA survivors have quit consuming energy drinks and have been event-free since.

Conclusion: Overall, 5% of SCA survivors experienced SCA in proximity to consuming an energy drink. Although larger cohort studies are needed to elucidate the incidence/prevalence and quantify its precise risk, it seems prudent to sound an early warning on this potential risk.