Dietary Patterns May Explain Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Rates in the U.S. Hispanic/Latino Population

Dietary patterns may help explain different rates of heart disease and stroke in different Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology, Prevention, Life>

“Although often grouped together as a racial group, the U.

To prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), the U.

The study included 10,766 adults (mean age 46; 63.

All participants completed two 24-hour meal recall questionnaires, one during the study visit between the initial enrollment and a second recall by phone approximately 30 days later, for details on the foods and how much of each type of food they ate within the first 24 hours

"These diets have several similar components, such as more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes," Chen said

For each dietary pattern, the researchers analyzed the risk of heart attack or stroke over an average of 6 years of follow-up

The analysis found:

• During an average of 6 years of follow-up, 248 participants (2.

  
  

• Mean adherence to the three measures of diet quality varied significantly across six groups of Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, with adults in Mexico having the healthiest diets, followed by those in the Dominican Republic, South America, Central America, Cuba, and Puerto Rico

  
  

• People who adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 46% lower risk of heart attack/stroke compared to those who adhered to the bottom third of each diet 36 percent scored higher on the Healthy Eating Index and 44 percent scored higher on the Following Plant-Based Eating Index

  
  

• When assessed separately, the relationship between diet quality and heart attack/stroke risk was similar in all six Hispanic/Latino populations

  
  

"Our study showed that higher scores on any of the three heart-healthy dietary patterns were associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that it may not be necessary to follow one specific pattern in order to achieve cardiovascular health.

Study participants born outside the U.

"Compared to Hispanic/Latino adults who immigrated to the U.

The study had several limitations, including participants' self-reported 24-hour eating reports at study baseline, which may have led to memory errors and may not have captured the types of foods eaten less frequently