STEMI Associated with Overuse of Energy Drinks

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) typically affect middle-aged and older adults.
• Younger individuals with STEMI often have a significant family history of CAD.
• Risk factors for CAD and STEMI in younger populations are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of acute STEMI in a young, nonobese adult.
• To investigate potential contributing factors in the absence of traditional risk factors.
• To highlight the association between excessive energy drink consumption and cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 26-year-old Hispanic male presenting with acute STEMI.
• Detailed patient history including smoking and energy drink consumption.
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization to assess coronary artery anatomy.

Main Results:

• The patient had no family history of CAD or other significant risk factors besides smoking and high energy drink intake (8-10 cans/day).
• Cardiac catheterization revealed a total occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery.
• The case underscores a potential link between excessive energy drink consumption and acute coronary events in young adults.

Conclusions:

• Excessive energy drink consumption may be an independent risk factor for STEMI in young adults.
• This case challenges the traditional understanding of STEMI etiology in younger individuals.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the cardiovascular effects of high-volume energy drink consumption.