Study Finds These Common Diseases May Raise Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk

Sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) have increasingly captured medical attention over the past two decades, as experts observe a worrying rise in cases among young and seemingly healthy individuals. What was once considered largely an older person’s health threat has begun to surface in adults aged 25 to 44. Now, new research uncovers a striking association between a widespread chronic illness and the risk of SCD, and the implications are global.

A large-scale study conducted at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark revealed a strong link between diabetes and sudden cardiac death. Published in the European Heart Journal, the research suggests that millions of people living with diabetes worldwide may be at a greater risk than previously understood.

Diabetes Linked to Higher Sudden Cardiac Death Risk

The study found that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes significantly increase the likelihood of sudden cardiac death, with the impact particularly pronounced in younger adults. Researchers also noted that people with diabetes tend to have shorter life expectancy overall, and sudden cardiac death contributes meaningfully to this reduction.

What Exactly Is Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden cardiac death refers to a rapid, unexpected fatality caused by a heart malfunction. It is rare among young, outwardly healthy individuals, yet its onset is catastrophic, death typically occurs within an hour of symptom onset. SCD is often driven by underlying cardiovascular issues or unexplained causes. Those who survive a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remain at a heightened risk of future episodes and death.

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How Diabetes Elevates Sudden Cardiac Risk

Led by Dr Tobias Skjelbred, the Danish research team analysed all 54,028 reported deaths in Denmark in 2010. Of these, 6,862 were identified as sudden cardiac deaths through hospital records, post-mortems and certificates.

The findings were stark: people with type 1 diabetes faced a 3.7 times higher risk of sudden cardiac death, while those with type 2 diabetes saw a 6.5 times greater risk compared to those without the disease. Alarmingly, adults under 50 with diabetes were found to have a sevenfold increased risk.

Globally, diabetes affects over 830 million people, underscoring the urgency of understanding this link.

Why Life Expectancy Drops for Diabetic Patients

Beyond increased mortality from SCD, diabetes dramatically shortens life expectancy. The study found that people with type 1 diabetes live an average of 14.2 years fewer, while those with type 2 lose around 7.9 years. Sudden cardiac death accounted for 3.4 of these lost years in type 1 diabetics and 2.7 in type 2.

“We found that sudden cardiac death occurs more frequently in people with diabetes across all age groups, and that sudden cardiac death has a substantial impact on the shortened life expectancy in individuals with diabetes. While sudden cardiac death risk increases with age for everyone, the relative difference is most pronounced when comparing younger people with diabetes to their peers in the general population,” Dr Skjelbred said.

However, the research remains observational, meaning it shows correlation rather than direct causation.

“There are probably several reasons behind this link, and these may differ by age. Having diabetes predisposes people to ischaemic heart disease, which is a key mechanism. In addition, diabetes-specific factors such as hypoglycaemia and cardiac autonomic neuropathy may increase the chances of an irregular heartbeat and sudden cardiac death,” Dr Skjelbred explained.

“Despite significant advances in cardiovascular medicine, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a challenge for prevention and treatment due to its unpredictable nature and high fatality rate,” Dr Hanno Tan from Amsterdam UMC noted in an accompanying editorial.

With global diabetes numbers rising, these findings reinforce the importance of early prevention, timely diagnosis and better awareness of cardiovascular risks, particularly for younger populations previously not considered at high risk.

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