THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

Abstract

Caffeine is a widely consumed stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks, capable of affecting the cardiovascular system. This integrative review investigated the relationship between caffeine consumption and the development of cardiac arrhythmias, with a search conducted on PubMed and BVS platforms and 25 articles included based on pre-defined criteria. Case reports linked high-dose caffeine, particularly through energy drinks and co-ingestion of other stimulants, to supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Risk was amplified by the presence of undiagnosed genetic heart diseases, even at non-lethal doses. In contrast, larger observational studies and recent randomized clinical trials suggest that moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation and major adverse cardiovascular events. Caffeine within safe limits (up to 400 mg/day) is generally well tolerated in healthy adults; high doses, co-ingestion of other stimulants, and underlying heart disease — particularly undiagnosed genetic channelopathies — represent the main risk factors.