In a finding that turns conventional medical wisdom on its head, new research suggests that drinking coffee may actually protect against irregular heartbeats rather than trigger them.
Clinical Trial Reveals Surprising Results
The Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation (DECAF) clinical trial followed 200 patients with persistent irregular heartbeats over a six-month period. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: one that consumed at least one cup of coffee daily and another that abstained from caffeine entirely.
The results, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association and presented at the American Heart Association conference in New Orleans, revealed a striking difference. The coffee-drinking group showed a 47% to 64% lower risk of their condition recurring compared to those who avoided caffeine.
Rethinking Decades of Medical Advice
This research arrives as more than 10 million people in the US live with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a condition that causes heart palpitations and can lead to serious complications including heart failure, blood clots, and strokes.
For years, healthcare providers have routinely advised A-fib patients to avoid caffeinated coffee due to concerns about elevated heart rates. Lead researcher Dr Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco, told NBC News the trial's outcome indicates "how protective caffeinated coffee does seem to be to prevent atrial fibrillation".
The study involved older adults from the US, Canada and Australia who had regularly consumed coffee within the previous five years. Researchers used multiple monitoring methods including electrocardiograms and wearable devices to track participants' heart rhythms accurately.
Study Limitations and Expert Caution
While the findings are significant, researchers acknowledge several limitations. The study didn't account for caffeine intake from other beverages or track differences in participants' exercise habits and diets.
Dr Johanna Contreras, a cardiologist at New York's Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, offered a measured interpretation of the results. She told NBC that while people with atrial fibrillation can likely consume coffee in moderation without concern, she stopped short of attributing protective qualities to the beverage.
"This shows you can have a cup of coffee in the morning and be OK if you have A-fib," she said, suggesting the research might ease concerns rather than promote coffee as a preventive treatment.
The research team ultimately determined that coffee drinkers were 17% less likely to experience a recurrence of irregular heartbeat during the trial and went longer before their first episode occurred.
