Study Finds That Cardiac Arrest Frequently Occurs After Consuming Energy Drink

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A new study from physicians at the Mayo Clinic highlights a concerning pattern: among individuals with arrhythmia, sudden cardiac arrest events are frequently linked to energy drink consumption.

Study Overview

Study Finds That Cardiac Arrest Frequently Occurs After Consuming Energy Drink

Published this week in the journal Heart Rhythms, the research examined medical records of 144 survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) who had been treated at Mayo Clinic’s Heart Rhythm Clinic. All patients had documented arrhythmias—irregular heartbeats caused by disrupted electrical signals. Researchers specifically looked for cases in which an energy drink had been consumed shortly before the cardiac event.

Key Findings

Although the sample was small, the results are significant. Seven patients—six of them women—experienced SCA that occurred in close temporal association with energy drink intake. Three reported regular consumption. Six of the seven required a rescue shock, and one needed manual CPR. These seven cases represented 5 % of the total cohort.

Because the study focused only on survivors treated at a specialized clinic, the true incidence may be higher; many fatal events linked to energy drinks may go unrecognized.

Clinical Implications

The authors acknowledge that the study demonstrates correlation rather than proven causation. Nevertheless, they argue that the findings warrant caution for anyone with known or undiagnosed heart conditions. Genetic cardiologist Michael Ackerman emphasized in a press release:

“Although the relative risk is small and the absolute risk of sudden death after consuming an energy drink is even smaller, patients with a known sudden-death-predisposing genetic heart disease should weigh the risks and benefits of consuming such drinks.”

Energy Drinks Versus Coffee and Tea

Moderate caffeine intake from coffee or tea is generally considered safe—even potentially protective—for most healthy adults and is usually tolerated by people with arrhythmias. Energy drinks, however, contain far higher caffeine loads plus large amounts of sugar and a variety of unregulated stimulants. These additional ingredients raise concerns about cumulative cardiovascular effects, especially since energy drinks are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Need for Further Research

Cardiologist Peter Schwartz, who wrote an accompanying editorial, noted that while definitive proof is still lacking, “we would be remiss if we were not sounding the alarm.” The rapid growth of the energy-drink market makes additional investigation both timely and essential.