Coffee - is it safe in hypertensive patients who drink coffee?

In many Indian families early morning Coffee drinking is common and that happens even before taking the blood pressure medications.  There is a concern about the effect of coffee on blood pressure and cardiovascular risks. Coffee can increase the blood pressure which may be for transient period.

In the recent issue of American journal of clinical nutrition AE Mesas et al discussed about the implications of coffee intake in hypertensive patients. (The effect of coffee on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis – Oct 2011 AJCN).

 In 5 trials, the administration of 200–300 mg caffeine produced a mean increase of 8.1 mm Hg (95% CI: 5.7, 10.6 mm Hg) in systolic BP and of 5.7 mm Hg (95% CI: 4.1, 7.4 mm Hg) in diastolic BP. The increase in BP was observed in the first hour after caffeine intake and lasted ≥3 h. In 3 studies of the longer-term effect (2 wk) of coffee, no increase in BP was observed after coffee was compared with a caffeine-free diet or was compared with decaffeinated coffee. Last, 7 cohort studies found no evidence of an association between habitual coffee consumption and a higher risk of CVD.

This information is very useful for those who are habitual coffee drinkers in the morning, but it should be remembered that it can increase the blood pressure transiently for couple of hours.