May 1, 2025, 12:28 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Each year, between 67 and 170 out of every 100,000 people worldwide experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital — a situation that often proves fatal, with only 2 to 20 percent surviving. Sudden cardiac death is thus considered one of the most common causes of death overall. Recently, scientists identified 56 preventable risk factors, one of which is particularly unusual.
Sudden cardiac death often strikes people without any warning, and many causes remain unclear to this day.1 While risk factors such as high blood pressure or heart disease are known, they do not explain all cases. A recent study has, therefore, examined whether everyday influences like exercise, sleep, or psychological stress could play a role. Particularly striking: Even moderate consumption of champagne was associated with lower risk — an unexpected finding that is unlikely to be attributed to the alcohol itself. It is more likely that consumption is linked to other favorable life circumstances and should not be understood as a recommendation for action. FITBOOK explains what was specifically investigated and what can truly be derived from the results.
Overview
- Study Aimed to Uncover Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiac Death
- Analysis of Over 500,000 Data Sets
- Obesity Increases the Risk of Cardiac Death — Champagne Apparently Reduces It
- What Is the Significance of the Results?
- Possible Limitations of the Study
- Preventing Cardiac Death — but Certainly Not with Champagne
- Sources
Study Aimed to Uncover Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiac Death
To learn more about non-clinical influences on the risk of sudden cardiac death, a research team from Fudan University (China) analyzed data from over 500,000 adults from the UK Biobank. The focus was on 125 everyday, potentially modifiable factors, including:
- Diet
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Mental well-being
- Environmental exposure
- Social conditions such as education or income.
Until now, many studies relied on preconceived assumptions and only considered individual known risks. In a press release, Huihuan Luo, lead author of the study, explains: “All previous studies that examined the risk factors of sudden cardiac arrest were hypothesis-based and focused on a limited number of possible exposure factors based on prior knowledge or theoretical frameworks.”2 Therefore, the researchers pursued a data-driven, open approach: The goal was to comprehensively analyze which factors are associated with an increased or decreased risk of sudden cardiac death in the long term — and what portion could theoretically be avoided through changes.3
Analysis of Over 500,000 Data Sets
The analysis is based on data from 502,094 adult participants in the UK Biobank. The average follow-up period is 13.8 years. The aim was to determine which everyday factors — such as sleep, diet, or stress — could influence the risk of sudden cardiac death. Unlike many previous studies, they did not start from individual suspicions but analyzed 125 possible influences simultaneously — without assumptions.4
To obtain the most reliable indications of actual connections, they also compared genetic differences among participants. This allowed them to better assess whether a connection is more likely coincidental or if a particular factor could truly influence the risk.
Obesity Increases the Risk of Cardiac Death — Champagne Apparently Reduces It
During the observation period, 3,147 participants suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Overall, the researchers found 56 modifiable factors statistically associated with a higher or lower risk. Particularly notable: Champagne was found to be on the risk-reducing side, according to the analysis.
Risk-increasing factors included:
- Poor mood
- Obesity
- High systolic blood pressure
- Low educational level
Risk-reducing factors included:
- Higher consumption of champagne and white wine
- Increased fruit intake
- Positive mood
- Weight control
- Blood pressure control
- Higher educational level
And indeed, their influence is far from negligible: “We were surprised at how many cases of sudden cardiac arrests could be prevented by improving unfavorable profiles,” said co-study leader Renjie Chen. According to the study, avoiding the worst third of all risk factors could prevent a remarkable 40 percent of sudden cardiac arrest cases. If the worst two-thirds are successfully modified, the figure rises to 63 percent. Lifestyle habits seem to contribute the most to prevention: They account for 18 percent of the 63 percent of preventable cases.
What Is the Significance of the Results?
The study makes it clear: Many risk factors for sudden cardiac death can be influenced. Improvements in areas such as exercise, diet, sleep, and mental health could make a significant difference. For policymakers and health systems, the results underscore the urgency of focusing more on education, environmental improvements, and socioeconomic support. The emphasis on non-clinical factors particularly highlights that prevention must start in everyday life — before the first symptoms of illness appear.
Possible Limitations of the Study
The study impresses with its extensive, innovative design: It combined prospective observational data with genetic methods to verify causal relationships (Mendelian randomization). However, while the results are intriguing, it should be noted that the findings mainly pertain to white, middle-aged to older adults in the United Kingdom, which may limit their applicability to other populations. A companion editorial specifically criticizes the UK Biobank for this: It consists of volunteers who lead healthier lifestyles, have fewer health problems, and are socioeconomically more privileged than the overall British population.5 Additionally, lifestyle habits were only recorded at the beginning of the study—later changes during the long observation period were not considered. Despite these limitations, the results provide a robust foundation for further research and prevention approaches.
Can Champagne Reduce the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?
What Lies Behind the Blood Disorder Hemophilia
The Drastic Effect of Cannabis Consumption on the Brain
Preventing Cardiac Death — but Certainly Not with Champagne
Sudden cardiac death is not an inevitable fate. The new study shows that many everyday habits apparently influence the risk — from diet and exercise to mental health. Social factors like education and environmental conditions also play an important role.
Individual findings, such as the possible protective effect of champagne or white wine, should not be misunderstood. The study’s editorial states that while such observations show interesting correlations, they do not prove that drinking champagne actually prevents cardiac arrests. Moreover, this finding raises even bigger questions in research: Previous studies have sometimes shown a cardioprotective effect from red wine—but with inconsistent results. The protection was previously attributed to the polyphenols abundantly found in red wine, which are scarcely present in champagne and white wine. The exact mechanisms are, therefore, still unclear. And the notion that the alcohol itself could produce positive effects should be viewed with considerable skepticism.