Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis Report Lower Lifetime Coffee Consumption

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Coffee consumption is linked to reduced risk of certain autoimmune and liver diseases.
• Environmental factors, including coffee intake, require assessment in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between coffee consumption and the risk of developing AIH.
• Utilize the GRACE database to analyze coffee drinking habits in AIH patients and controls.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 358 AIH patients and 564 controls.
• Collected lifetime coffee drinking data (time, frequency, cups) from primary care visits.
• Employed Wilcoxon rank sum and Chi-square tests for group comparisons, with logistic regression for covariate-adjusted analysis.

Main Results:

• AIH patients were less likely to be current coffee drinkers (65.6% vs. 77%) and more likely to be never drinkers (24.6% vs. 15.7%) compared to controls.
• AIH patients who drank coffee consumed fewer cups per month and for a smaller percentage of their lives.
• Lower coffee consumption remained significantly associated with AIH after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and other lifestyle factors.

Conclusions:

• Coffee consumption is significantly lower among individuals diagnosed with AIH.
• Reduced coffee intake may be a potential environmental factor associated with AIH development.