Gastrointestinal effects of coffee consumption and meal regularity on dyspepsia in medical students

Background: Dyspepsia is an upper gastrointestinal disorder characterized by epigastric pain, nausea, early satiety, and fullness. Medical students are prone to this condition due to academic demands, excessive coffee consumption, and irregular eating habits.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between coffee intake and meal regularity with dyspepsia among medical students at Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya.Methods: A total of 81 respondents were selected using purposive sampling, with data collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Chi-Square test.Results: Showed that 54.3% consumed 3–4 cups of coffee daily, 49.4% had irregular eating patterns, and 49.4% experienced dyspepsia. Bivariate analysis revealed significant associations between coffee consumption (p < 0.001) and meal regularity (p < 0.001) with dyspepsia occurrence.Conclusions: Coffee drinking habits and eating regularity are significantly correlated with dyspepsia, highlighting the need for educational efforts to promote regular meals and reduce caffeine intake as preventive measures.