A Sour Note: Sweetened Beverages Linked to Incident Heart Failure

To what extent can the detrimental effects escalate? The consumption of sweetened beverages is implicated in the risk of heart failure. Undeniably, every rose has its thorn.

Heart failure (HF), an end-stage manifestation of various forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounts for over 60 million deaths worldwide, making it a global pandemic.1 The prevalence of HF is increasing due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment, as well as the growing aging population.1 The burden posed by HF on healthcare expenditure is worrisome, and if no effective and timely interventions are taken, the economic consequences could worsen in the near future. One crucial public health strategy is to prevent the development of CVDs.2 Avoiding tobacco, engaging in regular brisk physical activity most days of the week, and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern are key lifestyle factors for the prevention of CVD. The consumption of beverages, as a dietary component, has become increasingly prevalent in modern societies. Sweetened beverages have been linked to various adverse cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, but their relationship with HF is uncertain.