The pros and cons of coffee consumption are no secret to anyone. On one hand, it is a good stimulant, as well as improving concentration and energy, but it is also contraindicated for people with certain cardiovascular conditions, as well as for those for whom it may induce a state of nervousness. However, a study conducted jointly by the University of California and the University of Adelaide sought to investigate its effects on patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
This trial was named DECAF, and it recruited patients from 5 different hospitals whose diagnoses included atrial fibrillation and who were scheduled to undergo electrical cardioversion. After involving a sample of 200 patients, half of whom were required to drink a daily cup of coffee and the other half to abstain completely from caffeine consumption, the results were revealing. Although coffee consumption is always contraindicated for people who suffer from cardiac arrhythmia, the truth is that the study revealed that the group that consumed caffeine experienced a 39% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
How does caffeine affect our bodies?
Many studies have been conducted to determine the effect that caffeine has on our body, especially when we consume it through its main source, coffee. Its benefits have been proven, including the contribution of antioxidants and polyphenols, its ability to improve concentration, and to provide an extra boost of energy. However, it has also been shown that its consumption is not recommended in cases where a person suffers from cardiovascular diseases, and it can also affect sleep quality and, in excess, may cause nervousness. Therefore, consumption should be moderate and, in some cases, subject to medical guidance.
DECAF Trial
Despite all this evidence about the effects of coffee on the body, studies continue. Together, the University of California-San Francisco and the University of Adelaide have carried out the so-called DECAF trial, through which they recruited patients from five different hospitals in the United States, Australia, and Canada. The eligibility requirement included that their medical diagnosis involved atrial fibrillation, that is, a very fast and irregular heart rhythm.
The sample consisted of 200 adults who were drinking coffee at that time or had done so in the past five years, and who, of course, had persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. It was also required that patients were scheduled to undergo electrical cardioversion, a procedure in which the normal heart rhythm is restored through an electric shock, serving as a treatment for certain types of arrhythmia. While some of the patients had to drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee a day, the rest were to completely abstain from caffeine consumption.
Trial results
As we have mentioned, previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between caffeine consumption and the worsening or cause of cardiac arrhythmia. In fact, it is common for doctors to recommend reducing caffeine intake to minimize the effects of arrhythmia. However, the results of this study tipped the scales in the completely opposite direction: the recurrence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter was lower in the coffee-consuming group (47%) than in the abstinence group (64%), resulting in a 39% lower risk of recurrence. The study was published in JAMA Network and presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions on November 9.
Important! Although this data shows that caffeine consumption could reduce the risk of developing atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, this is just one study and this is only information about it. It should by no means replace any medical advice you have received.