Residents of ‘food swamps’ could be at increased risk for stroke
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Residents of “food swamp” communities, which have a higher prevalence of fast-food options than healthy options, may be at increased risk for incident stroke, according to research presented at the International Stroke Conference.
“Despite major advances in stroke care, stroke continues to be a significant problem, and some people will remain at risk despite optimal medical treatment,” Dixon Yang, MD, postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said in a press release. “An unhealthy diet negatively impacts blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels that increases the risk of stroke. Independent of one’s own demographics or socioeconomic status, living in a neighborhood with an abundance of poor food choices may be an important factor to consider for many people.”
Data were derived from Yang D, et al. Abstract 85. Presented at: International Stroke Conference; Feb. 8-10, 2023; Dallas (hybrid meeting).
The term food swamp differs from “food desert” in that it refers to an area with a high density of fast-food and junk food-producing establishments, whereas a food desert is characterized by a lack of grocery stores or places to purchase fresh, nutritious food.
To evaluate the association between food swamps and risk for incident stroke, Yang and colleagues used data the 2010 Health and Retirement Study and matched community-level retail food environment index data. Retail food environment index is defined as the ratio of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to grocery stores in a given county.
For the present study, researchers also used the expanded retail food environment index, which also includes full-service restaurants as unhealthy options, and farmers’ markets and specialized food stores as healthy options.
Based on prior research, a retail food environment index of 5 or more may indicate locations with a high prevalence of obesity, according to the researchers.
During follow-up, incident stroke occurred in 3.8% of the cohort of 17,875 adults (mean age, 64 years; 54% women; 84% white), representing more than 84 million adults.
The average traditional food environment index was 6.5 and was 6.9 in the expanded retail food environment index.
Researchers observed that 72% of participants resided in a county with a traditional retail food environment index of 5 or more and 84% of participants resided in a county with an expanded retail food environment index of 5 or more.
After adjustment for demographics and health characteristics, traditional retail food environment index of 5 or more was associated with increased odds of incident stroke compared with lower index (OR = 1.135; 95% CI, 1.132-1.138). Results were similar when researchers evaluated the association between expanded retail food environment index of 5 or more and incident stroke (OR = 1.095; 95% CI, 1.092-1.098), according to the study.
“At this early stage of our research, it’s important to raise awareness that a person’s neighborhood and food environment are potentially important factors affecting their health, especially among people who may have difficulty in reaching optimal cardiovascular health targets,” Yang said in the release. “In the future, it may help to focus on community-based interventions or dietary guidance to improve cardiovascular health, thereby, hopefully reducing the risk of stroke.”
Reference:
- Living near a “food swamp” may increase stroke risk among adults 50 and older. newsroom.heart.org/news/living-near-a-food-swamp-may-increase-stroke-risk-among-adults-50-and-older. Published Feb. 2, 2023. Accessed Feb. 6, 2023.
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Yang D, et al. Abstract 85. Presented at: International Stroke Conference; Feb. 8-10, 2023; Dallas (hybrid meeting).
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