Coffee is associated with increased alertness and faster heart rates, so people with atrial fibrillation – the most common irregular heartbeat condition – are often told to avoid it. A new study suggests that advice may need a rethink.

Researchers followed 200 people in the US, Canada, and Australia who were about to undergo electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF). All were current or former coffee drinkers. Half agreed to avoid coffee for six months; the other half agreed to drink at least one cup per day.

Across the six months, the researchers tracked AF recurrences lasting more than 30 seconds. In the coffee-drinker group, 47 percent had an episode of AF, compared with 64 percent of abstainers. That equates to a 39 percent lower risk for coffee drinkers.

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