For some children and adolescents with congenital heart disease, physical activity and psychosocial stress pose life-threatening risks. Computer games, on the other hand, have not previously been considered risky leisure activities. But that could change now.
Children and young people with congenital cardiac arrhythmia have an increased risk of dying from sudden cardiac death when they play computer games. This is the result of a study by cardiologists and paediatricians from Australia. The research team led by Claire Lawley from the Heart Center for Children in Sydney examined a total of 22 international cases. The researchers collected the data for this from various databases, analyzed and evaluated them.
All of the children and adolescents suddenly developed various complaints while playing computer games. These ranged from feelings of an irregular heartbeat to chest pain and fainting. 8 of the adolescents then had to be resuscitated, 4 died of sudden cardiac death.
Of the 22 people aged between 7 and 16, 19 were diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia, only 7 were already aware of it before the event, and the other 12 cases were diagnosed later. In 13 of the adolescents, the researchers were able to determine what they had played during their seizure. 8 of those affected were war games.
At this point in time, the researchers cannot say exactly how the cardiac arrhythmias are caused by the computer game. However, they assume that the psychological tension during computer games leads to the release of so-called catecholamines. This describes a group of substances that have a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. In addition, as has already been shown in previous studies, the heart rate increases to up to 80 beats per minute in shooter games. Through the various changes, a state similar to endurance sports is reached in the body. However, this is considered a risk factor for sudden cardiac death for children and adolescents with congenital heart disease.
With their results, the research team was able to show that war games on the computer in particular can lead to fatal cardiac arrhythmias in children and adolescents with the corresponding pre-existing conditions. The problem: Not every child is aware that they have a heart problem. However, with computer gaming becoming a popular and widespread pastime among children and young people, more youngsters may be at risk than currently thought.
Those affected should avoid computer games that have already caused them to collapse, the researchers advise. In addition, computer games should no longer be seen as a “safe” alternative to exercise and sport for patients with heart disease, the researchers conclude in the publication in the specialist journal “HeartRhythm”. They call for more information and further investigations.