Coffee use prior to myocardial infarction restudied: heavier intake may increase the risk.
Because of conflicting evidence about the relation of coffee use to coronary artery disease, the authors conducted a new cohort study of hospitalizations among 101,774 white persons and black persons admitted to Kaiser Permanente hospitals in northern California in 1978-1986. In analyses controlled for eight covariates, use of coffee was associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction (p = 0.0002). Compared with nondrinkers of coffee, the following relative risks (RRs) were found: at 1-3 cups/day, RR = 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91-1.42); at 4-6 cups/day, RR = 1.42 (CI 1.10-1.84), p = 0.007; and at greater than 6 cups/day, RR = 1.41 (CI 1.00-1.99), p = 0.05. The relation remained significant when also controlled for blood cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, and adiposity, singly or combined. Tea use was unrelated to myocardial infarction; neither coffee nor tea was related to other coronary diagnoses. Although causality remains unestablished and uncertainty remains, the authors conclude that 1) these data suggest a weak independent relation of coffee use to acute myocardial infarction, not mediated by an effect on blood cholesterol; and 2) persons at risk of myocardial infarction should consider limitation of coffee intake to less than 4 cups/day.
Klatsky
A L
AL
Department of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, CA 94611.
Friedman
G D
GD
Armstrong
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects; D002140:California; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013662:Tea / Q000009:adverse effects
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003069:Coffee; D013662:Tea; D002110:Caffeine; D002784:Cholesterol