Lost in translation: dietary management of cardiovascular risk factors is seldom implemented

Abstract

Objective: To assess dietary management of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in the general population.

Method: Cross-sectional study conducted between 2009 and 2012 on 4811 participants (2567 women, 58±11years) living in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Results: Sixteen percent of participants diagnosed with overweight/obesity reported a slimming diet. Slimming diet was associated with diagnosis of hypertension: Odds ratio and (95% confidence interval): 0.61 (0.40-0.93); older age [0.84 (0.58-1.21), 0.79 (0.53-1.18) and 0.47 (0.27-0.81) for [50-60[, [60-70[ and [70+ years, respectively]; female gender [1.84 (1.36-2.48)] and diagnosis of diabetes [2.16 (1.13-4.12)]. Only 8% of participants diagnosed with hypertension reported a low-salt diet. Low-salt diet was associated with antihypertensive drug treatment [2.17 (1.28-3.68)] and diagnosis of diabetes [2.72 (1.26-5.86)]. One-third of participants diagnosed with dyslipidemia reported a low-fat diet. Low-fat diet was associated with female gender [1.47 (1.17-1.86)]; older age [1.29 (0.89-1.87), 1.71 (1.18-2.48) and 2.01 (1.33-3.03) for [50-60[, [60-70[ and [70+ years, respectively]; hypolipidemic drug treatment [OR=1.68 (1.29-2.18)]; current smoking [0.70 (0.51-0.96)] and obesity [0.67 (0.45-1.00)]. Approximately half of participants diagnosed with diabetes reported an antidiabetic diet. Antidiabetic diet was associated with current smoking [0.44 (0.22-0.88)] and antidiabetic drug treatment [OR=3.26 (1.81-5.86)].

Conclusion: Dietary management of CVRFs is seldom implemented in Switzerland.

Keywords: Diabetes; Dietary prevention; Dyslipidemia; Epidemiology; Hypertension; Switzerland.