Daily Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence, New Study Finds
A daily cup of coffee may actually reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat episodes in individuals treated for atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to research presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. The preliminary findings challenge long-held beliefs about caffeine’s impact on heart rhythm and offer a potentially welcome message to many coffee drinkers.
The study, formally known as the Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation (DECAF) trial, revealed that adults who continued to drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day following cardioversion therapy – a procedure to restore normal heart rhythm – experienced a 39% lower risk of AFib recurrence compared to those who abstained from caffeine.
“We conducted this study to assess whether caffeinated coffee increased or decreased the risk of AFib,” explained study lead author Christopher X. Wong, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., M.P.H., Ph.D., formerly of the University of California, San Francisco, and currently a professor of cardiology at the University of Adelaide in Australia.
The DECAF trial enrolled 200 adults diagnosed with AFib who had undergone or were about to undergo cardioversion, utilizing either medication or an electrical shock to re-establish a normal rhythm. Participants, who typically consumed around one cup of coffee daily, were randomly assigned to either continue their coffee habit or eliminate all caffeine for six months post-treatment.
During the six-month study period, researchers observed a significant difference in recurrence rates. The group continuing to drink coffee maintained their average intake of one cup per day, while the no-caffeine group reported complete abstinence. Notably, 47% of the coffee-drinking participants experienced a recurrent AFib or atrial flutter episode lasting more than 30 seconds, compared to 64% in the no-caffeine group. Similar risk reductions were observed when analyzing only AFib episodes, excluding atrial flutter.
“Our study results suggest that caffeinated coffee may not be responsible for raising the risk of AFib and may even reduce it,” stated senior study author Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Researchers caution that the study population consisted solely of existing coffee drinkers, meaning the results may not be directly applicable to individuals who do not regularly consume caffeine. Further investigation is needed to determine if initiating coffee consumption could yield similar benefits. Additionally, the findings may not extend to those who consume high quantities of coffee or other caffeinated beverages like energy drinks.
Despite these caveats, the study suggests a more nuanced relationship between caffeine and AFib than previously understood. “It is reasonable for health care professionals to let their AFib patients consider experimenting with naturally caffeinated substances that they may enjoy, such as caffeinated tea and coffee,” Marcus added. “However, some people may still find that caffeine or caffeinated coffee triggers or worsens their AFib.”
AFib affects over 6 million Americans and significantly increases the risk of serious complications, including blood clots, stroke, and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.
The DECAF trial included 200 adults with an average age of 69, with 71% identifying as male and 80% as white. Participants were enrolled from healthcare centers in the United States, Australia, and Canada between 2021 and 2024. Throughout the trial, caffeine consumption was self-reported by participants through detailed phone interviews. Half of the participants were already taking medication to prevent irregular heart rhythms and continued this medication throughout the study. Episodes of AFib or atrial flutter were verified by healthcare professionals or through medical-grade electrocardiograms recorded on personal health devices and documented in patient medical records.
The full manuscript of this research is simultaneously published today in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA. While these findings are preliminary and require further validation, they offer a potentially encouraging outlook for coffee lovers living with AFib.
