Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation
- Randomised controlled trial
- open-label
- prospective
- 5 hospitals (US, Canada, Australia)
Authors' conclusion
In this clinical trial of coffee drinkers after successful cardioversion, allocation to consumption of caffeinated coffee averaging 1 cup a day was associated with less recurrence of AF or atrial flutter compared with abstinence from coffee and caffeinated products.
Study context
- Population
- Current or previous coffee-drinking adults with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), or atrial flutter with a history of AF, planned for electrical cardioversion
- Participants
- 200 participants
- Comparison
- Caffeinated coffee consumption vs coffee and caffeine abstinence
- Coffee consumptionn = 100
- Coffee abstinencen = 100reference
- Primary endpoint
- Clinically detected recurrence of AF or atrial flutter
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
0.61
95% CI 0.42–0.89
P = 0.01
By group
Coffee consumption vs Coffee abstinence
HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.42–0.89); P = 0.01
Further findings
| Outcome | Coffee consumption | Coffee abstinence | between-group difference (cups per week) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee intake during follow-up | 7 (IQR 6–11) cups per week | 0 (IQR 0–2) cups per week | 7 (7–7) | |
| −50510Difference, cups per week (linear scale) |
AF recurrence only
- Comparable benefit of coffee consumption
Safety
Adverse events
- No significant difference in adverse events
Original publication
Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation. JAMA. Published 27 January 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.21056
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it