Nutrition in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular risk in the continental and Mediterranean regions of Croatia

• Published in: BMC cardiovascular disorders Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 247
• Main Authors: Sikic, Jozica, Stipcevic, Mira, Vrazic, Hrvoje, Cerkez Habek, Jasna, Margetic, Eduard, Gulin, Dario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 16.09.2017; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Angina pectoris; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diet therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cardiovascular risk factor; Chronic Disease; Complications and side effects; Coronary artery; Coronary artery disease; Coronary Artery Disease - diet therapy; Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Artery Disease - prevention & control; Coronary heart disease; Croatia; Croatia - epidemiology; Cytokines; Demographic aspects; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Diet, Mediterranean; Dietary fiber; Disease prevention; Epidemiology; Family medical history; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Food; Glucose tolerance; Health care; Heart attacks; Heart diseases; Hospitals; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Incidence; Male; Mediterranean diet; Mens health; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status; Nutritional Support - methods; Olive oil; Prevalence; Prevention; Primary prevention; Primary Prevention - methods; Proteins; Public health; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Secondary prevention; Secondary Prevention - methods; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival Rate - trends; Variance analysis; Vegetables; Croatia; India; Mediterranean Area; Secondary prevention; Primary prevention; Cardiovascular risk factor; Mediterranean diet; Coronary heart disease; Croatia
• ISSN: 1471-2261; 1471-2261
• DOI: 10.1186/s12872-017-0678-z

The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effect of Mediterranean and continental nutrition on cardiovascular risk in patients with acute and chronic coronary heart disease in Croatia. The study included 1284 patients who were hospitalized in a 28-month period due to acute or chronic ischaemic heart disease in hospitals across Croatia. An individual questionnaire was prepared which enabled recording of various cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with chronic coronary artery disease have a better index of healthy diet than patients with acute coronary disease. Women have a better index of diet than men in both Croatian regions. When the prevalence of risk factors (impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus types I and II, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypertension) in patients with Mediterranean and continental nutrition is compared, a trend is seen for patients who have risk factors to consume healthier food. The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This effect is more evident in patients with known cardiovascular disease.