What known risk factors predispose a person to sudden cardiac arrest?

Heart disease: Smoking history, family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure.

Coronary artery dz: The most common cause is disease of the coronary arteries, but problems in the electrical conducting system can also be a cause. Cardiomyopathies of many different causes are associated with sudden cardiac arrest. Many of these people have implanted defibrillators to reduce this risk.