Key result
Stressful life events, especially those producing chronic stress, might predispose otherwise healthy individuals to lethal arrhythmias (P=0.030).
Why the study?
The etiology of sudden cardiac arrest in individuals without known cardiovascular heart disease remains elusive in nearly half of patients after systematic testing.
Are stressful life events associated with an increased risk of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest?
Case-Control
Are stressful life events associated with an increased risk of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest?
Stressful life events, particularly those causing chronic stress, may be associated with an increased risk of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest in individuals without known cardiovascular disease.
May prompt stress history review in unexplained SCA; leaves open causal role of chronic stress in arrhythmia risk.
BACKGROUND: The etiology of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in individuals without known cardiovascular heart disease remains elusive in nearly half of all patients after systematic testing. We investigated the relationship between stressful life events and SCA risk in cases of explained and unexplained SCA (USCA) events. METHODS: Individuals who previously experienced SCA were enrolled prospectively and divided into a USCA or explained SCA (ESCA) subgroup dependent on whether a diagnosis was ascribed after SCA. Participants completed either the 1997 Recent Life Changes Questionnaire, Student Stress Scale, or Social Re-adjustment Rating Scale for Non-Adults recalling events during the year preceding their SCA, depending on age at SCA presentation; all measure stress in life change units (LCUs). SCA group scores were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. CONCLUSIONS: Stressful life events, especially those producing chronic stress, might predispose otherwise healthy individuals to lethal arrhythmias. Further investigation into the role of stress in SCA precipitation is warranted.
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Liu et al. (2020) conducted a case-control in Sudden cardiac arrest. Stressful life events vs. Age- and sex-matched control group was evaluated on Stress scores in life change units (LCUs) (p=.030). Stressful life events, especially those producing chronic stress, might predispose otherwise healthy individuals to lethal arrhythmias (P=0.030).
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