Association of Mediterranean diet and anthropometric measures with quality of life in coronary artery disease patients.

Introduction: the Mediterranean diet (MD) and ideal body weight are associated with a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases, but their association with health-related quality of life (HRQL) is not clear. Objective: the aim of this study was to assess the association between adherence to MD and the HRQL and anthropometric measurements in coronary artery disease patients. Methods: this cross-sectional study was carried out in 55 women and 84 men who were diagnosed with coronary artery disease by a physician. Anthropometric indices were measured, MD adherence was evaluated with a 14-item questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used for HRQL. Results: mean age in males was 63.0 ± 9.7 years and mean age in females was 63.1 ± 10.1 years. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 53.5% and 40.5%, respectively, in men and 14.5% and 83.6%, respectively, in women. Adherence to the MD was assessed and the median values were found statistically higher in male patients (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between MD and all physical component summary (PCS, its subscale) and most mental component summary (MCS) (except emotional role, social health subscale) (p < 0.05). Inverse significant associations were found between BMI, waist circumference, waist/height ratio, percent of body fat and both PCS and MCS (including most subscales). Conclusion: adoption of healthy dietary habits (adherence to the Mediterranean diet) by the participants and optimal anthropometric measurements may be considered as a possible contributor to HRQL.