Mertens2018_Article_AdherenceToAHealthyDietInRelat.pdf (702.59 kB)
Download fileAdherence to a healthy diet in relation to cardiovascular incidence and risk markers: evidence from the Caerphilly Prospective Study
journal contribution
posted on 2017-04-06, 12:57 authored by Elly Mertens, Oonagh MarkeyOonagh Markey, Johanna M. Geleijnse, Julie A. Lovegrove, David Ian GivensPurpose Epidemiological findings indicate that higher adherence to a healthy diet may lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The present study aimed to investigate whether adherence to a healthy diet, assessed by the
Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, and Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), was associated with CVD
incidence and risk markers. Methods Included in the present analyses were data from
1867 middle-aged men, aged 56.7 ± 4.5 years at baseline, recruited into the Caerphilly Prospective Study. Adherence to a healthy diet was examined in relation to CVD,
coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke incidence (Cox regression), and risk markers (linear regression) with adjustment for relevant confounders. Results The DASH score was inversely associated with CVD [hazard ratio (HR) 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66, 0.99], and stroke (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.42, 0.88) incidence, but not with CHD after an average of 16.6 year follow-up, and with diastolic blood pressure, after 12 year
follow-up. The AHEI-2010 was inversely associated with stroke (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.42, 0.88) incidence, aortic pulse wave velocity, and C-reactive protein. The HDI was not
associated with any single outcome.
Conclusions Higher DASH and AHEI-2010 scores were associated with lower CVD and stroke risk, and favourable cardiovascular health outcomes, suggesting that encouraging
middle-aged men to comply with the dietary recommendations for a healthy diet may have important implications for future vascular disease and population health.
Funding
This study was supported by research grants from the Dutch Heart Foundation (E. Dekker scholarship), University of Reading and Wageningen University. The Caerphilly Prospective Study was undertaken by the former Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit (South Wales) and was funded by the UK Medical Research Council. The pulse wave velocity measures at Phase 5 were collected with funding from the British Heart Foundation.
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