Chronic kidney disease linked to higher risk of sudden cardiac arrest after a heart event
New findings from an American research team show that chronic kidney disease markedly raises the danger of sudden cardiac arrest for people who have survived a heart attack. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights how kidney health can influence heart outcomes even after a cardiac event.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs. The condition is especially perilous because it triggers hypoxia, a lack of oxygen that damages organs and tissues in a matter of minutes.
Involved were 295 Hispanic and Latino individuals who had previously experienced a heart attack. By examining medical histories and current health status, researchers identified a high prevalence of chronic diseases within this group. Notably, 51 percent of heart attack survivors were found to have chronic kidney disease, underscoring a strong overlap between heart and kidney health concerns in this population.
Further analysis demonstrated that kidney disease raised the chance of sudden cardiac arrest by more than sevenfold. Other conditions also elevated risk, including alcoholism at about 4.5 times, atrial fibrillation at four times, a history of stroke or ischemia at around three times, heart failure at roughly 2.5 times, and type 2 diabetes at about 1.5 times. These figures emphasize how multiple health issues can compound cardiovascular risk after a heart attack.
Researchers emphasize the need for additional studies that include a wider range of ethnic groups to better understand these risk patterns across populations. The work contributes to a broader effort to define a new kind of cardiovascular risk profile that integrates kidney health as a key factor in post-heart attack care.
Ultimately, the findings call for clinicians to monitor kidney function as part of comprehensive post‑heart attack management and to consider integrated strategies that address both heart and kidney health to reduce the likelihood of sudden cardiac events in at-risk individuals.