Low social support level is associated with non-adherence to diet at 1 year in the Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health (FIT Heart).
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the relationship between low social support (SS) and adherence to diet in a cardiovascular disease (CVD) lifestyle intervention trial.


METHODS
Prospective substudy.


METHODS
Blood relatives/cohabitants of hospitalized cardiac patients in a randomized controlled trial (n=458; 66% female, 35% nonwhite, mean age 50 years).


METHODS
Non-adherence to diet using MEDFICTS (Meats, Eggs, Dairy, Fried foods, fat In baked goods, Convenience foods, fats added at the Table, and Snacks) tool; SS using the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients Social Support Instrument.


METHODS
Logistic regression models adjusted for confounders.


RESULTS
Significant predictors (P<.05) of non-adherence to diet recommendations at 1 year included low SS, increased body mass index and waist size, lower physical activity, depression, pre-action stages of change, control group assignment, and being male. Those with low SS at baseline 2.7 greater odds of being non-adherent to diet at 1 year vs those with higher SS (95% confidence interval=1.1-6.4); there was no interaction by group assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
Low SS at baseline was independently associated with non-adherence to diet at 1 year, suggesting that family members with low SS may be at heightened CVD risk as a result of poor dietary adherence.
Aggarwal
Brooke
B
Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Liao
Ming
M
Allegrante
John P
JP
Mosca
Lori
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005006:Ethnicity; D005192:Family Health; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005227:Fatty Acids