This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Dietary factors contribute to CVD death
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Poor diet, known to be associated with risk for CVD, was associated with more than 400,000 deaths in 2015, according to results presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions.
“Our findings provide a comprehensive picture of how suboptimal diet influences [CVD] mortality in the United States and identify priorities for dietary intervention,” Ashkan Afshin, MD, MPH, MSc, ScD, acting assistant professor of global health at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, told Cardiology Today.
Afshin and Patrick J. Sur, an MPH candidate at the University of Washington, examined data related to CVD-related deaths in 2015 and quantified the relationship between CVD death and suboptimal intake of 11 dietary factors: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meat, seafood omega-3 fatty acids, trans fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber and sodium. Additional information regarding each dietary factor’s intake was gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Suboptimal diet among men accounted for 222,100 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 189,500-252,800) CVD deaths in 2015 vs. 193,400 deaths among women (95% UI, 161,100-226,100), according to the researchers.
The most common dietary risk factors linked to CVD-related death were low consumption of vegetables (99,530 CVD deaths [11.5%]; 95% UI, 45,370-161,100), low intake of nuts (100,460 CVD deaths [11.6%]; 95% UI, 59,690-148,480), excess sodium (77,260 CVD deaths [9%]; 95% UI, 22,760-169,690) and low consumption of whole grains (89,670 CVD deaths [10.4%]; 95% UI, 52,300-132,980).
“Other top dietary risks for [CVD] death include low intake of fruit, low intake of seafood omega-3 fatty acids and high intake of trans fats,” Afshin said.
“By understanding which specific dietary habits increase risk of [CVD] death the most, cardiologists and other clinicians can better help their patients develop tailored eating plans for themselves and their families,” he told Cardiology Today. – by Darlene Dobkowski
Reference:
Afshin A, Sur PJ. Presentation 15. Presented at: Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions; March 7-10, 2017; Portland, Ore.
Disclosure: Afshin reports no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
Back to Top
Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD
This abstract reflects an investigation of NHANES data applying methodology developed for studying the Global Burden of Disease and estimating Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYS). The goal was to apply this global methodology to an American database with specific dietary factors recognized as being adverse or supportive of CV health.
Through extrapolation of this statistical approach, the investigators were able to derive the relative impact of the various dietary factors noted as they were assessed to have an overall influence on DALYS.
The findings have an implication for clinical practice, as they confirm the benefit of the plant-based dietary approach recommended by studies such as DASH, PREDIMED and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines that recommend a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources.
Cardiologists and other doctors can help patients understand the importance of an improved diet, as physicians are on the frontlines. They can be specific about the diet recommendations as they apply to each patient and further indicate the “precision diet” recommendations right for them to help them prevent cardiometabolic diseases.
We need further evidence of the mechanisms underlying these dietary factors as they specifically reduce risk and behavioral studies that effectively achieve patient adherence to diet and lifestyle changes.
It is especially important that these recommendations start in childhood or even in utero. As we learn more about the maternal dietary influence on fetal growth and development, it is increasingly clear that healthy dietary behavior enhances health at all ages and stages of life.
Limitations of the study include the fact that this is an abstract with limited methodology presented. Also, these are observational data rather than data from a randomized clinical trial or clinical intervention study. Further details related to these and other questions regarding the overall effects will likely be forthcoming in a publication.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts