Association between Breakfast Frequency and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study of KNHANES Data, 2014–2016

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing worldwide and one related lifestyle choice is breakfast consumption. This study examined the association between breakfast frequency and the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD). The 10-year risk of ASCVD was defined as the risk of the first event of nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, and nonfatal or fatal stroke within 10 years. Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014–2016 were analyzed, and 7212 participants aged 40–79 years with no history of CVD were included. ASCVD risk was calculated according to the pooled cohort ASCVD equation, and participants with a score >7.5% were considered at high risk of ASCVD. The association between breakfast frequency and high ASCVD risk was confirmed by logistic regression analysis. Participants who never ate breakfast were more likely to be in the high-risk group compared to participants who ate breakfast >5 times per week (OR (adjusted odds ratio) = 1.46; 95% CI (confidence interval) = 1.12–1.89), and the risk was especially higher in female participants and those with a family history of CVD. Our study confirms that breakfast consumption even once per week may prevent CVD.