Moderate coffee drinking may benefit some heart attack patients
Published on May 08, 2010
The effect of coffee consumption on the risk of heart disease has stirred much debate in recent years. Earlier this year, a thirteen year follow-up study of 130,000 Americans reported that moderate coffee drinking actually reduces the risk of being hospitalized for heart rhythm problems; a somewhat surprising finding when so many people are said to have ‘palpitations’ after drinking a strong cup of coffee and are advised to switch to a decaffeinated alternative.
While some individual studies have found that coffee may increase levels of cholesterol or even blood pressure, the overall view is that everyday coffee consumption does not in itself increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Most of the studies behind these claims, however, are considering the effect of coffee in the primary prevention (or risk) of heart disease; less well explored is the association between coffee and recurring disease in those who have already experienced an acute coronary event such as a heart attack.
Now, a report presented in Prague at EuroPRevent 2010, the year’s principal event for all those engaged in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, suggests that moderate coffee consumption after an acute coronary event substantially decreases the likelihood of developing left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), a condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood is reduced by at least 40% and which is a common precursor of heart failure. However, this beneficial effect was only apparent if the patient’s blood pressure was in the normal range.
The findings comes from a study of 374 patients who all had had an acute coronary event; 144 male & 50 female patients who developed LVSD with an ejection fraction of 40% or less, and 129 male and 51 female patients without LVSD (an ejection fraction of 50% or more).
The investigators, from Harokopio University and the Hippokration Hospital in Athens (Greece) recorded detailed information about lifestyle characteristics (physical activity, smoking) and nutritional habits, including their coffee consumption. The study was performed under the supervision of Prof. Christodoulos Stefanadis and Dr Christina Chrysohoou.
Results showed that in patients without raised blood pressure moderate coffee consumption of 1 or 2 cups a day was associated with an 88% lower likelihood of developing LVSD, and consumption of more than 3 cups with 90% lower than in those who did not drink coffee. However, this protective effect was not seen in patients who also had high blood pressure, where the consumption of 3 or more cups a day was associated with 4.5 fold higher likelihood of developing LVSD.
The investigators note that the effect of coffee on the risk of developing LVSD following an acute coronary event thus depends on blood pressure levels – and may therefore be associated with different outcomes.
Source : European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
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