COFFEE CONSUMPTION IN HYPERTENSIVE MEN IN OLDER MIDDLE-AGE AND THE RISK OF STROKE - THE HONOLULU HEART PROGRAM

Objective: To examine the association between coffee consumption and t he development of stroke in men at high risk for cardiovascular diseas e. Methods: Coffee intake was observed from 1965 to 1968 in a cohort o f men enrolled in the Honolulu Heart Program with follow-up for incide nt stroke over a 25-year period. Subjects were 499 hypertensive men (h aving systolic or diastolic blood pressures at or above 140 and 90 mm Hg, respectively) in older middle-age (55 to 68 years) when follow-up began. Past and current cigarette smokers were excluded from follow up . Results: In the course of follow-up, 76 men developed a stroke. Afte r age-adjustment, risk of thromboembolic stroke increased significantl y with increases in coffee consumption (P = 0.002). No relationships w ere observed with hemorrhagic stroke. When adjusted for other factors, the risk of thromboembolic stroke was more than doubled for men who c onsumed three cups of coffee per day as compared to nondrinkers of cof fee (RR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2-3.7). Conclusions: Although in need of fur ther confirmation, consumption of coffee appears to he positively asso ciated with an increased risk of thromboembolic stroke in hypertensive men in older middle-age. Findings suggest that it may be prudent to a dvise older middle-aged men with hypertension who consume large amount s of coffee to consider reducing their coffee intake. Published 1998 E lsevier Science Inc.