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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause sudden cardiac arrest is so often linked with coronary artery disease, the same factors that put you at risk of coronary artery disease may also put you at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. These include:
- A family history of coronary artery disease
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Drinking too much alcohol (more than one to two drinks a day)
Other factors that may increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest include:
- A previous episode of cardiac arrest or a family history of cardiac arrest
- A previous heart attack
- A personal or family history of other forms of heart disease, such as heart rhythm disorders, congenital heart defects, heart failure and cardiomyopathy
- Age — the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest increases with age, especially after age 45 for men and age 55 for women
- Being male — men are two to three times more likely to experience sudden cardiac arrest
- Using illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
- Nutritional imbalance, such as low potassium or magnesium levels
References
- Siscovick DS, et al. Overview of sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- What is sudden cardiac arrest? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/scda/scda_all.html. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- 2005 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Circulation. 2005;112(Suppl):IV-12.
- Myerburg RJ, et al. Cardiovascular collapse, cardiac arrest, and sudden cardiac death. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2869694. Accessed April 27, 2010.
- Sudden cardiac death. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=4741. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Ejection fraction and heart failure. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3065321. Accessed April 27, 2010.
- Sayre MR, et al. Hands-only (compression-only) cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A call to action for bystander response to adults who experience out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Circulation. 2008;117:2162.
- Prevention and treatment. Heart Rhythm Society. http://www.hrsonline.org/PatientInfo/HeartRhythmDisorders/SCA/Prevention/index.cfm. Accessed April 27, 2010.
- Bollmann A, et al. Antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs. 2005;5:371.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 7, 2010.
- Field JM, et al. Part 1: Executive summary — 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Circulation. 2010;122(suppl):S640.
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