DASH diet discussions with high-risk patients lacking in primary care

In primary care settings, physicians rarely discussed the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet with black patients with uncontrolled hypertension at high-risk for chronic kidney disease, according to recently presented data.

“Discussions of diet in primary care were frequent and … focused on various topics, but infrequently on the recommended [Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension] diet or other key aspects of dietary modification,” Deidra C. Crews, MD, ScM, FASN, associate professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.

Crews and colleagues audio-recorded the primary care visits of 127 patients to assess the frequency of discussions regarding the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet among PCPs.

General diet related discussion occurred in 73% of visits, with weight/obesity being specifically discussed in 36% of visits and cholesterol in 39% of visits. The DASH diet was only discussed in 12% of visits.

On average, the visits lasted 25 minutes. Longer visits were associated with higher likelihood of discussing the DASH diet, according to the researchers. Additionally, visits centered on patient priorities and patients who had higher incomes were also associated with DASH discussions.

Risk of chronic kidney disease, age, gender, obesity, diabetes and comorbid disease burden did not predict DASH discussions, according to the researchers.

“Improvements in the content of diet discussion in the context of clinical care for [blacks] at risk for chronic kidney disease may be needed, and could potentially lead to mitigation of racial disparities in kidney disease,” Crews said in a press release. – by Casey Hower

Reference:

Crews DC, et al. Engaging Urban African Americans at Risk for CKD in Discussions about Their Diet. Abstract SA-PO715. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week 2015; Nov. 3-8; San Diego.

Disclosures: Crews reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see abstract for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.