Daily Coffee Linked To Lower Risk Of Irregular Heart Rhythm Episode In Afib Patients

Adults treated for atrial fibrillation (AFib) who drank a regular cup of java were 39% little apt to person an irregular bosom hit section compared to those who avoided each caffeinated products, according to a caller study. The preliminary late-breaking subject was presented coming astatine nan American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting, Nov. 7-10, successful New Orleans, is simply a premier world speech of nan latest technological advancements, investigation and evidence-based objective believe updates successful cardiovascular science.

We conducted this study to measure whether caffeinated java accrued aliases decreased nan consequence of AFib. Participants were randomly assigned to proceed drinking astatine slightest 1 cup of caffeinated java regular aliases to debar immoderate caffeine for 6 months."

Christopher X. Wong, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., M.P.H., Ph.D., study lead author, formerly of nan University of California, San Francisco, and presently professor of cardiology astatine nan University of Adelaide successful Australia

The Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation (DECAF) proceedings enrolled 200 adults diagnosed pinch AFib who knowledgeable an irregular, accelerated bosom hit and were astir to beryllium treated pinch cardioversion therapy, utilizing medicine aliases an electrical daze to reconstruct a normal rhythm. Participants reported that they typically drank astir 1 cup of caffeinated java per day, and they agreed to travel nan researchers' proposal connected caffeine for 6 months aft nan cardioversion therapy. Half of nan participants were randomly chosen to proceed drinking astatine slightest 1 cup of java daily, and nan different half were instructed to debar each caffeine.

During nan 6-month study:

• The java group maintained their pre-enrollment wont of drinking astir 1 cup of java a day, while nan nary java group reported that they consumed nary caffeine each day.
• 47% of nan participants successful nan java group had a recurrent AFib aliases atrial flutter (rapid but regular heartbeat) section lasting much than 30 seconds, compared pinch 64% of nan no-caffeine group, representing a 39% little consequence among nan java drinkers.
• Similar reductions successful consequence were recovered erstwhile only AFib episodes (excluding atrial flutter episodes) were considered. 

"Our study results propose that caffeinated java whitethorn not beryllium responsible for raising nan consequence of AFib and whitethorn moreover trim it," said elder study writer Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., a professor of medicine astatine nan University of California, San Francisco.

This study enrolled only group who already portion coffee, truthful early studies mightiness analyse whether AFib episodes are reduced successful group who commencement drinking java aliases different caffeinated beverages for nan first time.

Because nan study participants consumed astir 1 cup of java per day, nan results whitethorn not use to group who portion much java aliases different beverages containing caffeine, specified arsenic power drinks.

"It is reasonable for wellness attraction professionals to fto their AFib patients see experimenting pinch people caffeinated substances that they whitethorn enjoy, specified arsenic caffeinated beverage and coffee. However, immoderate group whitethorn still find that caffeine aliases caffeinated java triggers aliases worsens their AFib," Marcus said.

AFib presently affects much than 6 cardinal group successful nan U.S. and tin lead to humor clots, stroke, bosom nonaccomplishment and different heart-related conditions, according to the American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

Study details, inheritance and design:

• The study enrolled 200 adults (average property of 69 years; 71% men; 80% self-identified arsenic achromatic adults) pinch AFib who usually drank astir 1 cup of java per day.
• After nan bosom hit was successfully returned to normal utilizing either medicine aliases electrical shock, participants were eligible to enroll and were randomly assigned to either proceed drinking astatine slightest 1 cup of java regular aliases to debar each caffeine for nan adjacent 6 months.
• Half of nan participants were already taking medications to forestall irregular bosom hit episodes, and they continued to return nan prescribed medications passim nan trial.
• All participants were followed for up to 6 months for nan recurrence of AFib aliases atrial flutter that lasted much than 30 seconds. The episodes were verified by their wellness attraction master aliases connected individual wellness devices pinch a medical-grade electrocardiogram. The episodes were past entered successful nan participants' aesculapian records.
• The study was conducted astatine 5 wellness attraction centers successful nan United States, Australia and Canada, pinch participants enrolled betwixt 2021 and 2024.
• Drinking java and different caffeinated beverages was self-reported by participants successful 3 elaborate telephone interviews during nan study.