Coffee intake may reduce ischaemic heart disease mortality risk

Despite apparent reversals in the direction of their interaction over the years, coffee intake remains inversely associated with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality on a country-level, reports a recent study.

Researchers conducted a long-term, international, ecological study, integrating data from 147 countries, to assess the nature of the interaction between coffee intake and IHD mortality from 1990 to 2018. Relevant data repositories, including the Global Burden of Disease Study and Global Dietary Database, were accessed.

From 1990 to 2018, global coffee intake increased significantly (p<0.001), coinciding with a decrease in mean IHD mortality (p<0.001) and incidence (p=0.073) rates. Over the same time span, cigarette smoking dropped while body mass index, ageing rate, and total energy intake rose (p<0.001 for all).

Graphical analysis revealed that over the years, the slope of the graph between coffee intake and IHD mortality and incidence reversed. For instance, such slope was positive from 1990 to 1992, suggesting a positive interaction, then flipped to a negative interaction from 2002 to 2018. In the intervening years, from 1992 to 2001, graphical analysis suggested no link between coffee intake and IHD.

Nevertheless, linear mixed model analysis confirmed that coffee intake was overall significantly inversely correlated with IHD mortality rate per 100,000 population (β, –10.047; p<0.01). Adjusting for country gross domestic product weakened but did not attenuate such interaction (β, –0.8417; p<0.05), and neither did additionally controlling for other covariates such as energy intake, lifestyle, and ageing (β, –10.294; p<0.01).