title: Eating behaviors and their relationship with cardiovascular disease. A case/case-control study.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the combined role of eating behaviors and to investigate their effect on the likelihood of developing an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or an ischemic stroke. During 2009-2010, 1000 participants were enrolled; 250 consecutive patients with a first ACS (83% males, 60 ± 12 years) and 250 control subjects, as well as 250 consecutive patients with a first ischemic stroke (56% males, 77 ± 9 years) and 250 controls. The controls were population-based and age-sex matched with the patients. Detailed information regarding their anthropometric data, medical records and lifestyle characteristics (dietary and smoking habits, physical activity, psychological state and eating practices -using a special questionnaire-) were recorded. Five eating behaviors were selected to compose an eating behavior score for the purposes of this work: adherence to the Mediterranean diet (using the MedDietScore), frequency of breakfast consumption, eating while being stressed, eating while working and skipping meals. Eating behaviors with beneficial health effects were scored with 0, while those with negative effects were assigned score 1. The total range of the score was between 0 and 5. Higher scores reveal "unhealthier" eating practices. After controlling for potential confounding factors, each unit increase of the eating behavior score was associated with 70% (95% CI: 1.29-2.22) higher likelihood of developing an ACS. Insignificant associations were observed regarding ischemic stroke. The overall adoption of specific "unhealthy" eating practices seems to have a detrimental effect on cardiovascular health, and especially coronary heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 Eleftheriou Venizelou Str., 17671 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Konidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 Eleftheriou Venizelou Str., 17671 Athens, Greece; School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina-Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kastorini
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Haralampos J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Milionis
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Eftychia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bika
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, "Hellenic Red Cross" Hospital, 1 Erithrou Stavrou & Athanasaki Str., 11526 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.affiliation: Acute Stroke Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, 80 Vas. Sofias Ave., 11528 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Vemmos
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Goudevenos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70 Eleftheriou Venizelou Str., 17671 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: d.b.panagiotakos@usa.net.
authors.forename: Demosthenes B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Eating behaviors; Eating practices; Ischemic stroke