Drinking coffee may cut death risk in kidney disease patients

Caffeine consumption may prolong the lifespan of patients with chronic kidney disease, a study claims.

Researchers at Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte in Portugal examined the association of caffeine consumption with mortality among 2328 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The team found a dose-dependent inverse association between caffeine and all-cause mortality.

Compared with those in the lowest quartile of caffeine consumption, those in the second, third, and highest quartiles had 12 per cent, 22 per cent, and 24 per cent lower risks of dying.

"Our study showed a dose-dependent protective effect of caffeine consumption on mortality among patients with CKD," said Miguel Bigotte Vieira from Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte.

This association was independent of potential confounders including age, gender, race, annual family income, education level hypertension, smoking status etc, researchers said.

"These results suggest that advising patients with CKD to drink more caffeine may reduce their mortality. This would represent a simple, clinically beneficial, and inexpensive option, though this benefit should ideally be confirmed in a randomised clinical trial," said Vieira.