Caffeine Consumption and Cardiovascular Risks: Little Cause for Concern

C affeine consumption is virtually ubiquitous in our society. It is naturally found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola drinks. Furthermore, caffeine is often added to beverages, foods, pain relievers, and other products. In the United States, coffee accounts for 70% of the caffeine consumed. A report in this issue of JAHA by Dixit and colleagues describes the relations between the reported intake of caffeinated products and the occurrence of arrhythmias assessed by 24-hour Holter monitoring in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The investigation included >1300 adults and all participants were >65 years of age at baseline. The authors report no association for atrial or ventricular arrhythmia prevalence and reported intake of caffeinated products. The Dixit article provides an opportunity to briefly review the pharmacology of caffeine related to the cardiovascular system and to share recent information and insights from clinical studies and population reports concerning caffeine intake and cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, and arrhythmias.