Coronary Care Caffeine: Influence of Coffee on Heart Rate Post Myocardial Infarction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Sudden cardiac death due to a heart rhythm disturbance after a heart attack (myocardial
infarction) is a common cause of death. It is well documented that sudden cardiac death after
a myocardial infarct (MI) is associated with low or poor heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is
a measure of beat-to-beat changes in heart rate, with a greater variation associated with a
"healthier" heart. The effect of caffeine on HRV in patients at high risk for sudden cardiac
death is unknown. We, the investigators at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, aim to study the
effect of coffee or tea on HRV after MI.