A new clinical trial presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 suggests that moderate coffee consumption may actually reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation in some patients, challenging long-standing medical advice to avoid caffeine with heart rhythm disorders. The study found that adults with AFib who drank at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily were 39% less likely to experience recurrent irregular heart rhythm episodes compared to those who completely avoided caffeine.
The Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation (DECAF) trial enrolled 200 adults diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who typically consumed about one cup of coffee per day. All participants had recently undergone cardioversion therapy to restore normal heart rhythm and were randomly assigned to either continue their coffee consumption or avoid all caffeine for six months. The results showed that only 47% of coffee drinkers experienced recurrent AFib or atrial flutter episodes lasting more than 30 seconds, compared to 64% of those in the no-caffeine group.
This research directly contradicts the common medical belief that caffeine may trigger or worsen abnormal heart rhythms. Study senior author Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that the findings suggest caffeinated coffee may not raise AFib risk and could potentially reduce it. The study was simultaneously published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA, lending credibility to its methodology and conclusions.
The implications of this research are significant for the more than 6 million Americans living with atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to serious complications including stroke, heart failure, and blood clots according to the American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics available at https://www.heart.org. Many AFib patients have been advised to eliminate caffeine from their diets, but this study suggests that moderate coffee consumption might be safe or even beneficial for some individuals.
Researchers caution that the findings apply specifically to people who already consume about one cup of coffee daily and may not extend to those who drink larger quantities or consume other caffeinated beverages like energy drinks. The study also only included participants who were regular coffee drinkers before enrollment, leaving open the question of whether starting coffee consumption would provide similar benefits to non-coffee drinkers with AFib.
Health care professionals may now consider allowing their AFib patients to experiment with moderate consumption of naturally caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea, though individual responses may vary. Some patients might still experience AFib symptoms triggered by caffeine, emphasizing the need for personalized medical advice. The study abstract can be viewed through the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner at https://professional.heart.org.
Conducted at five health care centers across the United States, Australia, and Canada between 2021 and 2024, the trial represents one of the first randomized controlled studies specifically examining coffee consumption in AFib patients. Participants' heart rhythm episodes were verified by health care professionals or through medical-grade electrocardiogram devices, ensuring accurate data collection. The research adds to growing evidence that moderate coffee consumption may have cardiovascular benefits for certain patient populations.
