Self-reported health-related behaviors and dietary habits in patients with metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
There is an ongoing debate about factors affecting the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle especially in the population without coronary artery disease (CAD) symptoms and with one or several risk factors. The study was aimed at describing self-reported health-related behaviors and dietary habits in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).


METHODS
Consecutive patients with an outpatient diagnosis of MetS admitted to our cardiology department underwent clinical examination and cardiovascular risk assessment based on the SCORE scale. Self-reported intensity of pro-healthy behaviors was described using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) developed by Juczynski. Diet quality was assessed using the 24-h dietary recall method, diet history questionnaire and the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI).


RESULTS
A total of 113 patients were recruited (90 males, mean age 48 ± 9 years) including 85% of patients with at least moderate cardiovascular risk (SCORE ≥ 1%). Central obesity was confirmed in 100%, family history of CAD in 75%, LDL exceeding 115 mg/dL in 68% of the patients. A total of 66% of the patients had already been on antihypertensive and 30% on lipid-lowering treatment without previous counselling on lifestyle modification. Most patients reported high or medium level health-related behaviors (23% and 45%, respectively). However, 91% led sedentary lifestyle and none of the patients followed cardioprotective diet recommendations. According to the HEI, 73% required partial and 27% complete diet modification.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant discrepancy between health perception and medical recommendations in patients with MetS. Effective patient education, taking into account a revision of the patient's knowledge on the principles of prophylaxis, may form the fundament for the changes in patient behavior, and cardiovascular risk reduction.
Cardiology and Inter nal Medicine Depar tment, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland. kpiotrowicz@wim.mil.pl.
Katarzyna
K
Piotrowicz
Ewelina
E
Pałkowska
Elżbieta
E
Bartnikowska
Paweł
P
Krzesiński
Adam
A
Stańczyk
Przemysław
P
Biecek
Andrzej
A
Skrobowski
Grzegorz
G
Gielerak
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057566:Self Report