Adults with AF who consume ASBs face an elevated risk of death and stroke. Findings from the UK Biobank cohort, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 (ESC 2025), highlight the potential impact of beverage choices on long-term outcomes in this population.

The analysis included 3,904 adults with AF from 502,409 UK Biobank participants. Beverage intake was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires and classified as ASBs, sugar-sweetened beverages, natural fruit juices (NJs), milk, coffee, tea, or water. Over a median follow-up of 11.6 years, there were 575 all-cause deaths, 211 cardiovascular deaths, 781 new heart failure cases, and 344 strokes.

ASB intake exceeding 1 cup/day was associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.28), cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.21–2.71), and stroke (HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.41–3.80). In contrast, higher intake of NJs, tea, and moderate coffee consumption correlated with lower all-cause mortality. Substitution analyses showed that replacing ASBs with NJs, tea, or coffee reduced mortality risk.

These findings suggest that beverage consumption patterns may influence long-term prognosis in AF and support limiting ASB intake as part of comprehensive risk management.