• Management of comorbidities and lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and alcohol are the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) management. While caffeine is often considered as a risk factor for AF, evidence has so far been limited to mostly observational studies.
• Existing studies show mostly a neutral or beneficial effect of coffee with regards to AF, though these are observational and hence prone to confounders.
• The recent DECAF trial was the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) that tested this hypothesis in patients with persistent AF, and demonstrated a reduced recurrence of AF in patients randomized to daily coffee intake.
• Further evidence is needed regarding the effect of caffeine on paroxysmal AF. The effects of other caffeinated products such as energy drinks also require further research.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a prevalence of 1.49 million people in England, and an estimated lifetime risk of 37% in those of European descent (1,2). Guidelines emphasise the importance of managing lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol which have been proven to increase AF risk (2–4). While many patients (5) and physicians (6,7) consider caffeine to be a trigger for AF, there is a paucity of randomised controlled trial (RCT) data.
Authors Heartbeat Sub-Editor: Sandeep Singh Dr Sandeep Singh is a Cardiology Clinical Fellow at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. After graduating from India, he completed
Authors Heartbeat Sub-Editor: Khin Kay Kay Kyaw I am currently working as cardiology specialist registrar ST6 at southwest peninsula region while also working as an
Authors Heartbeat Sub-Editor: Anindya Mukherjee Dr. Anindya Mukherjee is a ST5 trainee registrar in Cardiology at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, UK, with extensive experience
Authors Sub-editor: Sameer Zaman Heartbeat Sub-Editor: Aleena Haider Aleena is an academic cardiology trainee at Imperial College London with a strong commitment to all aspects