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Energy Drink Overconsumption in Adolescents: Implications for Arrhythmias and Other Cardiovascular Events

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Heart Diseases Predisposing to Arrhythmia in Adolescents

Although most cases of sudden cardiac death (∼ 80%) are attributed to underlying coronary artery disease, a non-negligible 5%-10% of all cases occur in young apparently healthy individuals. The most frequent underlying conditions of tachyarrhythmia and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in children, adolescents, and young adults are structural heart diseases (ie, cardiomyopathies) and primary electrical disorders, the so-called channelopathies (ie, cardiac ion channel diseases). Ion

Assessing the Evidence

Cardiac manifestations such as atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, QT prolongation, or ST-segment elevation, have been reported after high ingestion of EDs.21, 22 Frost and Vestergaard described the association of caffeine overconsumption with the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter in almost 48,000 participants in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study.23 Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias such as AF are less dangerous than ventricular tachyarrhythmias, but they can trigger

Conclusions

As ED consumption continues to grow, physicians are advised to ask adolescent patients whether they consume EDs, to be aware of the symptoms of ED overconsumption, and to discuss the dangers of EDs alone and mixed with alcohol. Although the use of EDs with alcohol was mentioned as a risk, and there is a well-established biochemical interaction between ED contents and alcohol, the fact that EDs enable the drinker to stay alert would further increase the risk of assuming larger amount of

Recommendations

On the basis of the aforementioned evidence, we offer tentative advice, which is presented in Table 3. In summary, 1 can (250 mL) of an ED per day is safe for most healthy adolescents. ED consumption before or during sports practice should be avoided. Adolescents with clinically relevant underlying medical conditions should consult cardiologists before drinking EDs. Excessive consumption of EDs together with alcohol or other drugs, or both, may lead to adverse effects, including death. Parents

Disclosures

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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