BackgroundCaffeine is widely consumed not only in coffee but also in soft drinks and tea. However, the long-term health effects of caffeine are still controversial, especially in people with high cardiovascular risk such as elderly patients with hypertension.MethodsThis study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2018. Caffeine intake was calculated by two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Complex sampling-weighted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in elderly hypertensive patients with different caffeine intake (