Healthy lifestyles linked to lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest
In 404,970 UK Biobank participants, each additional healthy lifestyle factor was linked to a 13% lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Research Square
Researchers studied 404,970 UK Biobank participants in an observational cohort study of sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. They scored seven lifestyle factors, including smoking, physical activity and sleep. Scores ranged from zero to seven, with higher scores indicating healthier lifestyles.
Over a median follow-up of 13.5 years, the study recorded 2,294 cardiac arrest cases. Each additional healthy factor was associated with a 13% lower risk. Participants with favourable scores of five to seven had a 64% lower risk than those with unfavourable scores of zero or one. Each additional score point was also associated with 9% lower mortality after cardiac arrest.
Why it matters
Sudden cardiac arrest carries high mortality. Understanding its links with lifestyle may inform prevention and early intervention aimed at preserving life and health as people age.
Caveats
This observational study cannot establish that healthier lifestyles caused the differences in risk or survival. The paper is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.
- Healthy lifestyle
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Major adverse cardiovascular events
- Healthy lifestyle score
- Humans
The paper
Wang F, Luo P, Zhang Q et al.
Research Square · 7 Oct 2026 · Preprint, not peer-reviewed
