Coffee Consumption and Risk of Stroke in Women

from Circulation current issue by Lopez-Garcia, E., Rodriguez-Artalejo, F., Rexrode, K. M., Logroscino, G., Hu, F. B., van Dam, R. M.
Background— Data on the association between coffee consumption and risk of stroke are sparse. We assessed the association between coffee consumption and the risk of stroke over 24 years of follow-up in women.

Methods and Results— We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of 83 076 women in the Nurses’ Health Study without history of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, or cancer at baseline. Coffee consumption was assessed first in 1980 and then repeatedly every 2 to 4 years, with follow-up through 2004. We documented 2280 strokes, of which 426 were hemorrhagic, 1224 were ischemic, and 630 were undetermined. In multivariable Cox regression models with adjustment for age, smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol intake, menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy, aspirin use, and dietary factors, the relative risks (RRs) of stroke across categories of coffee consumption (<1 trend="0.003)." trend="0.05).">

Conclusions— Long-term coffee consumption was not associated with an increased risk of stroke in women. In contrast, our data suggest that coffee consumption may modestly reduce risk of stroke.