RESEARCH UPDATE

Coffee and cardiovascular disease

Latest research supports the association of moderate coffee consumption with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term describing all conditions that affect
the heart and circulation, including coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, heart failure (HF), and stroke. Each of these conditions can be affected by various risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood vessel dilation and homocysteine levels, as well as lifestyle factors1.

CVD remains the leading cause of mortality and a major cause of morbidity in Europe. Currently, there are more than 6 million new cases of CVD in the EU and more than 11 million in Europe as a whole, every year2.

Diet, physical activity, smoking, and blood cholesterol levels are key CVD risk factors, whilst other risk factors, such as the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, have increased considerably in recent decades2.

Research into the associations between coffee consumption and health continue to evolve and this report updates current knowledge in the area of coffee and CVD.