Fish Intake and Risk of Incident Heart Failure

ObjectivesOur aim was to investigate the relation between fish consumption and incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF).BackgroundThe incidence and health burden of CHF are rising, particularly in older persons. Although n-3 fatty acids have effects that could favorably influence risk of CHF, the relation between fish intake and CHF incidence is unknown.MethodsAmong 4,738 adults age ≥65 years and free of CHF at baseline in 1989–90, usual dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. In a participant subsample, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish, correlated with plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids. Incidence of CHF was prospectively adjudicated.ResultsDuring 12 years’ follow-up, 955 participants developed CHF. In multivariate-adjusted analyses, tuna/other fish consumption was inversely associated with incident CHF, with 20% lower risk with intake 1 to 2 times/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64 to 0.99), 31% lower risk with intake 3 to 4 times/week (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.52 to 0.91), and 32% lower risk with intake ≥5 times/week (HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.45 to 1.03), compared with intake