Overview

• The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, used exposome-wide analysis and Mendelian randomization to uncover 56 non-clinical risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
• Targeting the worst one-third of modifiable risk factors could prevent 40% of SCA cases, with prevention rates rising to 63% if two-thirds are addressed.
• Lifestyle behaviors, including diet, alcohol consumption, mood management, and blood pressure control, account for 13%–18% of preventable cases.
• Protective factors identified include increased fruit intake, moderate champagne/white wine consumption, weight management, and higher education levels.
• An accompanying editorial urges a shift from reactive emergency care to holistic, population-wide prevention strategies addressing environmental, psychosocial, and socioeconomic determinants of health.