Dietary Adherence in People with Cardiovascular Risk Factors Living in Northern Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Incorrect nutrition is one of the risk factors for heart disease, and any change in dietary habits can be useful in preventing and controlling heart disease. However, before any nutritional intervention, we need to have an outlook of the dietary habits of the people. This study aims to determine the adherence to correct nutrition plan and some of its effective factors in people living in northern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted among 550 individuals with cardiovascular risk factors referring to Heshmat Hospital in Rasht. Risk factors and indicators were collected using designed questionnaires, medical records review and assessment of dietary adherence with Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MDAS) questionnaire, which was localized according to the Persian culture. The score of the nutrition questionnaire is zero–14. Zero – five is inappropriate adherence; 6–9 is moderate adherence and 10 and above is high dietary adherence (healthy food patterns). FINDINGS: The mean age of subjects was 58±0.38 years. 71.4% of subjects suffered from overweight and obesity. Mean dietary adherence was 5.76±0.07. Forty three percent of subjects had inappropriate adherence, 55% had moderate adherence and only 2% had high dietary adherence. The dietary adherence in men was significantly higher than women (p=0.001). People living in rural areas and those with higher education had more inappropriate dietary adherence insignificantly. CONCLUSION: Despite having access to appropriate and healthy food in northern Iran, people's food pattern was estimated to be inappropriate. Therefore, education about modified food program and a trend toward following the Mediterranean dietary pattern, which is similar to the dietary culture of the people in northern Iran, is suggested