Search

The American Heart Association (AHA) has developed the concept of “ideal cardiovascular health” (ICH), a seven-component score, which includes health dietary metrics. Higher ultra-processed foods intake is related with several cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We propose to develop and validate the Cardiovascular Health Diet Index (CHDI), a diet quality index that combines the AHA's recommendations of a healthy diet for cardiovascular health and ultra-processed foods. We used dietary data obtained through a 114-item FFQ from 14,779 participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adults Health (ELSA-Brasil). The CHDI had 11 components and a total score ranging from 0 to 110 points. Validation and reliability analyses were performed, including principal component analyses, association with selected nutrients, means differences between groups (for example, smokers vs. non-smokers), Cronbach's alpha, and linear regression analyses between CHDI and overall dietary quality. The mean CHDI was 57.1 points (95% CI 47.9:66.0). The CHDI had four dimensions; in addition, it was associated with nutrients related to cardiovascular health, and the points were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in smokers (52.1) than in non-smokers (57.8). Cronbach's alpha value was 0.50. After age and sex adjustment, the CHDI score remained associated with a higher overall dietary quality (β 0.87, 95%CI 0.84:0.89, p < 0.001). The CHDI proved to be valid and reliable for use, in addition to being associated with higher overall dietary quality. The use of CHDI is expected to assess the population's compliance with dietary recommendations for promoting cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease.

Abstract Background Nuts consumption is related to cardioprotective effects on primary cardiovascular prevention, but studies conducted in secondary prevention are small, scarce and controversial. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of a regional and sustainable cardioprotective diet added or not with an affordable mixed nuts on cardiometabolic features in patients with previous myocardial infarction. Methods DICA-NUTS study is a national, multi-center, and superiority-parallel randomized clinical trial. Males and females over 40 years old diagnosed with previous myocardial infarction in the last 2 to 6 months were included. Patients were allocated into two groups: the Brazilian Cardioprotective diet (DICA Br) supplemented with 30 g/day of mixed nuts (10 g of peanuts; 10 g of cashew; 10 g of Brazil nuts) (intervention group, n = 193); or only DICA Br prescription (control group, n = 195). The primary outcome was low-density lipoprotein cholesterol means (in mg/dL) after 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes were other lipid biomarkers, glycemic and anthropometric data and diet quality. Results After adjustment for baseline values, participating study site, time since myocardial infarction and statin treatment regimen (high potency, moderate and low potency/no statins), no significant difference was found between the groups in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (intervention-control difference: 3.48 mg/dL [-3.45 to 10.41], P = 0.32). Both groups improved their overall diet quality at the end of the study without differences between them after 16 weeks (intervention-control difference: 1.05 (-0.9 to 2.99); P = 0.29). Other lipids, glycemic profile and anthropometrics were also not different between study groups at the end of the study. Conclusion Adding 30 g/day of mixed nuts to the DICA Br for 16 weeks did not change lipid, glycemic and anthropometric features in the post-myocardial infarction setting. Trial registration This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov website under number NCT03728127 and its World Health Organization Universal Trial Number (WHO-UTN) is U1111-1259–8105.

Summary: Background and aims: A healthy diet is one of the pillars of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) treatment. However, the best dietary pattern and indication for specific supplementation have not been established. Our aim is to conduct a pilot study to assess the effect of an adapted cardioprotective diet with or without phytosterol and/or krill oil supplement in participants with a probable or definitive diagnosis of FH, treated with moderate/high potency statins. Methods: A national, multicenter, factorial, and parallel placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial with a superiority design and 1:1:1:1 allocation rate will be conducted. The participants will undergo whole exome sequencing and be allocated into four treatment groups: 1) a cardioprotective diet adapted for FH (DICA-FH) + phytosterol placebo + krill oil placebo; 2) DICA-FH + phytosterol 2 g/day + krill oil placebo; 3) DICA-FH + phytosterol placebo + krill oil 2 g/day; or 4) DICA-FH + phytosterol 2 g/day + krill oil 2 g/day. The primary outcomes will be low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) levels and adherence to treatment after a 120-day follow-up. LDL- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol subclasses, untargeted lipidomics analysis, adverse events, and protocol implementation components will also be assessed. Results: A total of 58 participants were enrolled between May–August 2023. After the end of the follow-up period, the efficacy and feasibility results of this pilot study will form the basis of the design of a large-scale randomized clinical trial. Conclusions: This study's overall goal is to recommend dietary treatment strategies in the context of FH.

Resumo Fundamento Alcançar as metas nutricionais estabelecidas pelas sociedades científicas é um desafio constante e nem sempre alcançado. Objetivo Investigar a adequação alimentar de indivíduos com doença cardiovascular (DCV), participantes do Programa Alimentar Brasileiro Cardioprotetor residentes da região Nordeste do Brasil, segundo as recomendações da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC). Métodos Análise transversal com dados do estudo de implementação da Dieta Cardioprotetora Brasileira (DICA BR) que avaliou indivíduos com DCV, atendidos em centros especializados em saúde cardiovascular em oito estados do Nordeste. O consumo alimentar foi obtido por recordatório alimentar de 24 horas e a adequação da dieta seguiu as recomendações da SBC. Foram considerados significantes valores de p < 0,05. Resultados Foram estudados 647 pacientes, com média (desvio padrão) de idade de 63,1 (9,4) anos, sendo 50,2% do sexo feminino. Na avaliação da ingestão alimentar, observou-se baixa adequação de carboidratos (52,3%), proteínas (70,9%), lipídios (38,8%) e fibras (22,4%). Observou-se que a maioria das mulheres consumia dieta hipoproteica (59,2%) e idosos tinham maior inadequação no consumo de carboidratos (52,6%). Em relação a ingestão de sódio, os homens apresentaram maior ingestão (72,9%), enquanto os idosos apresentaram redução de 13%. Além disso, foi demonstrado que os homens ingeriam mais fibras (28,1%) e indivíduos com maior escolaridade tinham um consumo elevado de ácidos graxos saturados (70,5%). Conclusões A maioria dos indivíduos não alcançou as metas dietoterápicas preconizadas para prevenção cardiovascular secundária. Os achados do presente estudo reforçam a necessidade de implementação de estratégias estruturadas, a fim de estimular hábitos alimentares saudáveis nesses indivíduos.

Resumo Fundamento: A adesão à uma alimentação adequada em macronutrientes é fundamental para a prevenção secundária de doenças cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de adesão às recomendações de consumo de ácidos graxos para prevenção e tratamento de doenças cardiovasculares, e estimar se a presença de determinados fatores de risco cardiovascular estaria associada à adesão. Métodos: Estudo transversal com os dados de linha de base de 2358 participantes do estudo "Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program Trial". Dados de consumo alimentar, e fatores de risco cardiovascular foram avaliados. Foi considerada, de acordo com a Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, uma ingestão adequada de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados (AGPI) ≥10% do consumo total de energia diária, para ácidos graxos monoinsaturados (AGM), 20% e para ácidos graxos saturados (AGS),

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intercessory prayer performed by a group of spiritual leaders on the health outcomes of hospitalized patients with Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, specifically focusing on mortality and hospitalization rates. Design: This was a double-blinded, controlled, and randomized trial conducted at a private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Interventions: Both groups continued to receive their usual medical care in accordance with HCor Hospital's institutional patient care protocol for COVID-19 patients. Intervention: Both groups received their regular medical care according to HCor's institutional patient care protocol for COVID-19 patients. The intervention group, in addition to standard treatment, received intercessory prayers performed by a group of spiritual leaders. Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints included the need for mechanical ventilation during hospitalization, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospital stay. Results: A total of 199 participants were randomly assigned to the groups. The primary outcome, in-hospital mortality, occurred in 8 out of 100 (8.0 %) patients in the intercessory prayer group and 8 out of 99 (8.1 %) patients in the control group (HR 0.86 [0.32 to 2.31]; p = 0.76). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of secondary outcomes. Conclusion: The study found no evidence of an effect of intercessory prayer on the primary outcome of mortality or on the secondary outcomes of hospitalization time, ICU time, and mechanical ventilation time.