Habitual coffee consumption and risk of falls in 2 European cohorts of older adults

Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 May 1;109(5):1431-1438. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy369.

Abstract

Background: Habitual coffee consumption has been associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sarcopenia, which are strong risk factors of falls. In addition, caffeine intake stimulates attention and vigilance, and reduces reaction time. Therefore, a protective effect of coffee on the risk of falling can be hypothesized.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the association between habitual coffee consumption and the risk of ≥1 falls, injurious falls, and falls with fracture in older people.

Methods: Data were taken from 2964 participants aged ≥60 y from the Seniors-ENRICA (Study on Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk in Spain) cohort and 8999 participants aged ≥60 y from the UK Biobank cohort. In the Seniors-ENRICA study, habitual coffee consumption was assessed with a validated diet history in 2008-2010, and falls were ascertained up to 2015. In the UK Biobank study, coffee was measured with 3-5 multiple-pass 24-h food records starting in 2006, and falls were assessed up to 2016.

Results: A total of 793 individuals in Seniors-ENRICA and 199 in UK Biobank experienced ≥1 fall during follow-up. After multivariable adjustment for major lifestyle and dietary risk factors and compared with daily consumption of <1 cup of coffee, the pooled HR for ≥1 fall was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.52, 1.07) for total coffee consumption of 1 cup/d and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.90) for ≥2 cups/d (P-trend = 0.001). The corresponding figures for caffeinated coffee were 0.67 (95% CI: 0.42, 1.07) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.87) (P-trend < 0.001). Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with risk of falling in the analyzed cohorts. In Seniors-ENRICA, there was a tendency to lower risk of injurious falls among those consuming caffeinated coffee (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.00 for 1 cup/d; HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.09 for ≥2 cups/d; P-trend = 0.09). No association was observed between caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee consumption and risk of falls with fracture.

Conclusions: Habitual coffee consumption was associated with lower risk of falling in older adults in Spain and the United Kingdom.

Keywords: Seniors-ENRICA; UK Biobank; coffee; cohort study; falls; older population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
  • Accidental Injuries / prevention & control
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caffeine / therapeutic use
  • Coffee* / chemistry
  • Diet Records
  • Diet*
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • Coffee
  • Caffeine