Energy Drink Use and Its Health Implications among Medical Students in Aden, Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) is becoming a common phenomenon and widespread habit among university students, especially those majoring in demanding medical fields. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of energy drink consumption among university medical students in Aden, Yemen. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 university students of both public and private universities during May-August 2025. The collection of data was done by using a structured questionnaire, and then the extracted data was analyzed with SPSS. Results The overall prevalence of ED consumption was 62.5%. ED consumption was higher in males (68.5%) and younger students ≤ 19 years (73.6%), both of which had a significant association (p < 0.05). Consumption was higher in the evening, at 59.2%, and the brand of choice was Lift Up. Academic demands were a strong factor, as reflected by 76.8% of the respondents who said that the intake increased during examinations. Almost half of them combined energy drinks with other substances (44.8%). Although 83.8% of respondents believed that EDs improve concentration and energy, most also agreed to adverse effects, especially insomnia (agreed to by 66%), anxiety or stress (58.8%), heart palpitations (58.2%), and dehydration (58.4%). Conclusion energy drinks are commonly used by medical students in the city of Aden, with consumption levels influenced by demographic and academic variables. Although perceived to be beneficial by promoting alertness, the EDs have adverse health effects, which the students are fully aware of, apart from the beneficial effects gained from consumption.