Your morning cup of coffee may be doing more for your heart than you realize.
New research from the University of Adelaide suggests that drinking a cup of coffee a day could help protect against atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart condition also known as an irregular heartbeat. AF affects roughly one in three people during their lifetime and can lead to heart failure, stroke, and even death. In Australia, about half a million people are living with AF, with an estimated 30 per cent—around 150,000 individuals—undiagnosed. The condition is linked to high blood pressure, obesity, and other heart diseases.
Researchers conducted the DECAF (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation) trial, a randomized clinical study involving 200 AF patients from Australia and abroad. Half of the participants were asked to abstain from coffee for six months, while the other half were instructed to drink at least one cup daily. Both groups were monitored for episodes of AF, which were verified by physicians.
The results, described as “astounding” by first author Professor Christopher X. Wong of the University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, showed that coffee drinkers experienced a significant reduction in AF compared to those who avoided caffeine. Participants who drank coffee daily had a 39 per cent lower risk of recurrent AF episodes.
“This is surprising, as it goes against the common assumption that coffee worsens heart rhythm disorders such as AF,” Professor Wong said. He added that the trial indicates coffee is not only safe for AF patients but may actually be protective.
Senior author Professor Gregory Marcus from UCSF’s Division of Cardiology noted that caffeine acts as a diuretic, which can potentially reduce blood pressure and lower AF risk. Coffee also encourages physical activity and contains anti-inflammatory compounds, both of which may benefit AF patients.
“Based on these results, coffee-drinking patients with AF can safely continue to enjoy their coffee,” Professor Wong said. “Furthermore, it may be worth investigating whether AF patients who don’t currently drink coffee should consider starting.”
