Association of Caffeine Intake and Caffeinated Coffee Consumption with Risk of Incident Rosacea in Women

Abstract

Importance: Caffeine is known to decrease vasodilation and have immunosuppressant effects, which may potentially decrease the risk of rosacea. However, the heat from coffee may be a trigger for rosacea flares. The relationship between the risk of rosacea and caffeine intake, including coffee consumption, is poorly understood. Objective: To determine the association between the risk of incident rosacea and caffeine intake, including coffee consumption. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included 82737 women in the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), a prospective cohort established in 1989, with follow-up conducted biennially between 1991 and 2005. All analysis took place between June 2017 and June 2018. Exposures: Data on coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate consumption were collected every 4 years during follow-up. Main Outcomes and Measures: Information on history of clinician-diagnosed rosacea and year of diagnosis was collected in 2005. Results: A total of 82737 women responded to the question regarding a diagnosis of rosacea in 2005 in NHS II and were included in the final analysis (mean [SD] age at study entry, 50.5 [4.6] years). During 1120051 person-years of follow-up, we identified 4945 incident cases of rosacea. After adjustment for other risk factors, we found an inverse association between increased caffeine intake and risk of rosacea (hazard ratio for the highest quintile of caffeine intake vs the lowest, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.84; P <1/mo; 95% CI, 0.69-0.87; P