Adherence to nutrition guidelines in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a secondary prevention.

BACKGROUND

The appropriate nutrition is an important component of the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to investigate if the patients with cardiovascular disease were informed of the role of appropriate nutrition in prevention or received nutrition guidelines and to assess the dietary intake compared to recommendations for patients with cardiovascular disease who received or not nutrition guidelines

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted among patients with cardiovascular disease (n = 127) of cardiological hospital clinic, aged 62 ± 11. The questionnaire was used to obtain personal and anthropometric details, information if patients had received nutrition guidelines. The method of 3-day food records was used for dietary assessment

RESULTS

20% of subjects had not received nutrition guidelines and almost 40% of subjects did not recognize the nutrition effect on cardiovascular disease development. Compared to the diets of the subjects who had not received nutrition guidelines, the diets of those who had received them were of significantly lower intake of: energy from saturated fatty acids (15%, p = 0.006), cholesterol (21%, p = 0.012) and higher intake (14-26%) of potassium (p = 0,003), sodium (p = 0.013), phosphorus (p = 0.044), magnesium (p = 0.003), iron (p = 0.005), copper (p = 0.001), zinc (p = 0.046). Among the patients who had received nutrition guidelines, percentage of the subjects whose intake of nutrients was consistent with recommendations was higher

CONCLUSIONS

Not all subjects had received nutrition guidelines. Diets of those who had received them were more balanced, but in neither group nutrition guidelines were complied with