High-frequency drinking plus unfavourable lifestyle may spell higher SCA risk

Frequent alcohol consumption coupled with unfavourable lifestyle profiles may significantly raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) among current alcohol drinkers, according to a case–control study.

Researchers used data from the Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial With Unique Registration and Epidemiologic Surveillance registry (2017–2023) and identified 961 SCA cases among current drinkers. Current drinkers who had SCA were matched to 1,891 current drinkers who had no history of SCA. Matching was performed according to age, sex, and residential area.

Alcohol frequency was categorized as low (not more than once a month), moderate (2–4 times per month or 2–3 times per week), or high (≥4 times per week). Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) was calculated as a 7‐component composite of modifiable lifestyle factors, with each component scored dichotomously according to prespecified criteria. These modifiable lifestyle factors included smoking, physical activity, sleep, and intake of red meat, fish, fruit, and vegetable.

High‐frequency drinking was associated with higher odds of SCA compared with low-frequency drinking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.66). Similarly, HLS 0–2 was associated with increased odds of SCA compared with HLS 5–7 (aOR, 10.02).

In combined analyses, high‐frequency drinking plus HLS 0–2 was associated with the highest odds of SCA, with an aOR of 29.84 compared with low‐frequency drinking plus HLS 5–7.

An additive interaction was observed between high‐frequency drinking and physical inactivity. Potential impact fractions were 16.1 percent for an alcohol frequency shift alone, 52.5 percent for HLS improvement alone, and 58.7 percent for the combined scenario.