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©2016 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2016625 Teri M. Kozik is a nurse researcher and George S. Charos is an electrophysiologist and director of Cardiology at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Stockton, California. Salah S. Al-Zaiti is an assistant professor at the Department of Acute and Tertiary Care Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mary G. Carey is associate director for clinical nursing research, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York and Michele M. Pelter is an assistant professor at the the Department of Physiological Nursing at University of California, San Francisco, California. ECG Puzzler

Energy drink consumption has increased significantly over the past decade and is associated with greater than 20,000 emergency department visits per year. Most often these visits are due to cardiovascular complaints ranging from palpitations to cardiac arrest.To determine if energy drinks alter; blood pressure, electrolytes, activated bleeding time (ACT), and/or cardiac responses measured with a 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter.Continuous ECG data was collected for five hours (30 minutes baseline and 4 hours post consumption [PC]). Subjects consumed 32 ounces of energy drink within one hour and data (vital signs and blood samples) was collected throughout the study period. Paired students t-test and a corresponding non-parametric test (Wilcoxon signed rank) were used for analysis of the data.Fourteen healthy young subjects were recruited (mean age 28.6 years). Systolic blood pressure (baseline=132, ±7.83; PC=151, ±11.21; P=.001); QTc interval (baseline=423, ±22.74; PC=503, ±24.56; P.001); magnesium level (baseline 2.04, ± 0.09; PC=2.13, ±0.15; P=.05); and calcium level (baseline=9.31, ±.28; PC=9.52, ±.22; P=.018) significantly increased from baseline. While potassium and ACT fluctuated (some subjects increased their levels while others decreased) these changes were not significant. Eight of the fourteen subjects (57%) developed a QTc500 milliseconds PC. Other T-wave changes were noted in 9/14 (64.3%) subjects PC.Energy drinks increased systolic blood pressure, altered electrolytes, and resulted in repolarization abnormalities. These physiological responses can lead to arrhythmias and other abnormal cardiac responses highlighting the importance that emergency room personnel assess for energy drink consumption and potential toxicity.

Introduction: Energy drinks are presumed to enhance energy, physical endurance, mood, and boost metabolism. Serious health risks have been reported with energy drink consumption such as myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, stroke, seizures, and arrhythmias. More than 20,000 emergency department visits related to energy drink consumption were reported in 2011. Little is known about the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and adverse events associated with energy drinks. Unlike the tobacco and alcohol industry, there are limited restrictions regulating the purchasing and marketing of these drinks. Purpose: To determine if consumption of energy drinks alter; vital signs (blood pressure, temperature), electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, calcium), activated bleeding time (ACT), or cardiac responses measured with a 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter. Method: Subjects consumed two-16 ounce cans of an energy drink within one hour and remained in the lab where data was collected at base line (BL) and then during four hours post consumption (PC). Vital signs were taken every 30 minutes; blood samples were collected at BL, one, two and four hours PC and ECG data was collected throughout the entire study period. Paired students t-test and a corresponding non-parametric test (Wilcoxon signed rank) were used for analysis of the data. Results: Fourteen healthy young subjects were recruited (mean age 28.6 years). Systolic blood pressure (BL=132, ±7.83; PC= 151, ±11.21; p=.001); QTc interval (BL=423, ±22.74; PC=503, ±24.56; p500 milliseconds PC. Conclusions: In our sample, consumption of energy drinks increased systolic blood pressure, serum magnesium and calcium, and resulted in repolarization abnormalities. Because these physiological responses can lead to arrhythmias and other abnormal cardiac responses, further study in a larger sample is needed to determine the effects and possible consequences of energy drink consumption.