Carotid total plaque area burden according to dietary quality in adults from Córdoba-Argentina

Abstract

Diet is a modifiable risk factor in the prevention of atherosclerosis, therefore the approach to dietary quality is an important tool as part of timely and preventive treatment. Objective: To evaluate the carotid total plaque area (TPA) according to dietary quality. 

Observational study (n=120 persons, RePIS N°3884) in Cardiovascular Prevention Program, Córdoba-Argentina (period:2019-2022). Inclusion criteria: age 35-75 years, absence of previous cardiovascular event, respiratory, hepatic and gastrointestinal disease; GFR≥60mL/min/1.73m2, HbA1c and TSH in normal range. Food frequency was performed, and the Dietary Quality International Index (DQI-I) was calculated. Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and glycemia, systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and TPA by eco-Doppler were determined. Presence of hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) by self-report and/or medication consumption. Descriptive analysis, t-test and generalized linear model (GLM) gamma according to distribution of variables-IC95% were conducted.

The mean age was 59±11 years old, 63.3% were women, 85.8% were overweight (53.3% obese), 70.8% HT, 27.5% DM. Mean total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and glycemia were 182±42, 103±36, 50±13, 144±65, 107±29 mg/dL respectively. TAS/TAD was 129±17/77±10 mmHg. Only one person had "Healthy eating" (HE), 70.8% "Needs changes (NC)" and 28.3% "Unhealthy (UH)". Therefore, the categories NC and UH are analyzed.  Between the two there was no difference in the mean biochemical values, SBP/DBP. The median TPA in UH was 47mm2(interquartile range:87mm2), while in NC it was 20mm2(interquartile range:43mm2) (p=0.008). In GLM the UH presented higher TPA with respect to NC (Coefβ=1.83;p=0.047) adjusted by categorized age, sex, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia and SBP. 

People with a UH diet presented higher TPA despite presenting on mean controlled laboratory values and controlled SBP/DBP. This would indicate that their control alone is insufficient in the prevention of ATs, and it is important to add the dietary approach.