Moderate coffee consumption may add years to your life and reduce your health care costs.

That’s the analysis of Xcenda, Chesterbrook-based AmerisourceBergen’s strategic consulting arm, which recently ran what it says is the first-ever health economic analysis of coffee consumption.

“Our health economic model estimated that coffee consumption prevents over 50,000 deaths per year due to chronic disease and cancer and results in an estimated healthcare savings of $33.4 billion per year,” said Ken O’Day, director at Xcenda. “This shows us that coffee may be more than just a morning pick me up.”

Xcenda’s coffee study was conducted and tested by fellows and seasoned researchers throughout 2013 and Xcenda presented the findings at the 2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research conference.

Amy Grogg, president of AmerisourceBergen Consulting services, said the current health care system is hyper-focused on reducing costs and improving outcomes, and health economic research critically examines the effectiveness and value of health-affecting behaviors, resources and systems on a population.

“When we applied a health economic analysis to coffee, we were excited to see that this morning necessity may be a cost-effective means to improve health outcomes,” Grogg said.

The study showed moderate coffee drinkers gained a half-year over their lifetime compared to a 6.1 to 8.5 life year gain for those who quit smoking at the age of 35 and a 1.8 to 4.5 life year gain for a physically active person versus an inactive person.

The research also showed that coffee consumption may be a cost-effective way to prevent chronic disease such as Alzheimer’s, depression, diabetes, heart failure, Parkinson’s, stroke and cancer.

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