Moderate coffee consumption lowers atrial fibrillation risk in men

USA: Men who consume 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day are at a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) -- an irregular heart rhythm that’s a leading cause of stroke, suggests a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages around the world. Coffee contains caffeine, polyphenols, and diterpenes, which have been shown to influence cardiovascular disease. Drinking coffee is also known to the sensitivity of myocardium to calcium that can affect heart rhythm. Few large studies have assessed the association of coffee consumption with the risk of AF, and results have been inconsistent.

Given the widespread use of coffee around the world and the inconsistent relation between coffee and AF, Vijaykumar Bodar, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, and colleagues sought to examine whether coffee intake is associated with AF risk in a cohort of men.

Also Read: Even high coffee intake does not lead to heart attack or stroke, confirms new study

For the purpose, the researchers prospectively studied 18 960 men (average age 66.1 years) who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study. Coffee consumption was assessed through questionnaires of self‐reported food frequency. AF incidence was assessed through annual questionnaires and validated through review of medical records in a subsample. During a mean follow‐up of 9 years:

• A total of 2098 new cases of AF occurred during a mean follow‐up of 9 years.


• Hazard ratios of AF were 1.0 (reference), 0.85 , 1.07, 0.93, 0.85, 0.86, and 0.96 for coffee consumption of rarely/never, ≤1 cup/week, 2 to 4 cups/week, 5 to 6 cups/week, 1 cup/day, 2 to 3 cups/day, and 4+ cups/day, respectively; adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol intake, and exercise.


• In a secondary analysis, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of AF per standard deviation (149‐mg) change in caffeine intake was 0.97.

Also Read: Coffee intake during exercise increases stroke risk, finds new study

"Based on the current study by Bodar et al, it would seem reasonable to conclude that a moderate amount coffee may lead to a neutral to slightly decreased risk of atrial fibrillation in a generally healthy population, but whether there is a beneficial impact of coffee in the general population remains to be seen," Ryan G. Aleong, and Amneet Sandhu, from University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

To read the complete study follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.011346