Analysis of Dietary Patterns and Economic and Geographic Risk Factors for the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

The global epidemic of obesity is on the rise and is a risk factor for many non-communicable chronic diseases (NCD).

Purpose: To examine risk factors for the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men in 50 countries with minimum and maximum morbidity.

Methods and Results: Using the Mann-Whitney U-criterion, a comparative analysis of risk factors in two groups of countries (25 countries per group) with the minimum and maximum burden of CVD in 2004 was performed.

Quality of life: Group 1 had 6 times higher per capita income (p≤0.0001) compared to Group 2. There were no statistically significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 for geographic latitude (p≥0.7), longitude (p≥0.4), and ultraviolet level (UV) (p≥0.3). Prosperity, health care, education, clean water and air, life expectancy, corruption, happiness, etc. indicated the success of Group 1 countries compared to Group 2 (p≤0.0001).

Burden of CVD morbidity: Group 1 compared to Group 2 had 4 times lower burden of coronary disease (p≤0.0001); 4.5 times lower burden of cerebrovascular disease (p≤0.0001) and 6 times lower burden of hypertension (p≤0.0008). Group 1 had a 2.5-fold lower burden of cirrhosis (p≤0.0008) and no statistical difference in the burden of diabetes mellitus (p≥0.2).

Metabolic syndrome (MS): in Group 1 compared to Group 2 there were 1.2 times higher proportion (%) of men with overweight: (BMI ≥ 25) (p≤0.004); 1.4 times higher proportion (%) of men with obesity: (BMI ≥30) (p≤0.01); 1.6 and 2.0 times higher proportion (%) of men with hyperlipidemia: (Chol. ≥ 5.0) (p≤0.0001), and (Chol. ≥ 6.2) (p≤0.0001); 1.6 times higher proportion (%) of men with low physical activity: (NFA≤ 60 min) (p≤0.01). However, the proportion (%) of men with hyperglycemia (Glu > 7.0) and high blood pressure (BP≥140/90 mm/Hg) were not statistically different in Group 1 and Group 2 (p≥0.8).

Dietary patterns: Group 1 had 1.2 times higher consumption of animal products (AP) (p≥0.02); consumption of cereals and vegetables (CV) was not statistically different (p≥0.2); Group 1 had 2.3 times higher consumption of fruits (FS) (p≤0.0001); 3.5 times higher consumption of alcoholic beverages (AB). Consumption of macronutrients (energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat) corresponded to food consumption levels. The diversification of nutrients was higher in Group 1.

Conclusion: despite high income rate, high levels of overweight and obesity in Group 1, the burden of CVD and cirrhosis was 4 times higher in low-income countries. The burden of diabetes mellitus was not statistically different between Groups 1 and 2.

Keywords:Food consumption levels; Dietary patterns; Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome; Burden of cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Cirrhosis

Abbreviations:AB: Alcoholic Beverages; AP: Animal Products; BMI: Body Mass Index; BP: Blood Pressure; CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; CD: Communicable maternal perinatal Diseases Chol - blood cholesterol; CL: Consumption Level of selected foods; EEI: Ecological Efficiency Index; FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; FS: Fruits and Sweeteners; GDP: Gross Domestic Product; Glu: Blood Glucose; HPI: Happiness Index; IHD: Index of Human Development; LPA: Low Physical Activity; M: Male; NCD: Non-Communicable Diseases: P: Person; CV: Cereals and Vegetables; RE: Rating Educations; TCL: Total Daily Consumption; Type 2 diabetes: T2DM; UV: Ultraviolet level