Association between regional dietary patterns and cardiovascular health status among elderly in China

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cardiovascular health (CVH) status of the elderly and analyze the effects of dietary patterns and demographic characteristics on CVH. METHODS: A total of 4299 individuals aged 60 years and above from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2018 were selected as the research objects. Cluster analysis was used to analyze the dietary patterns. The definition of “Life’s Essential 8” of CVH released by American Heart Association (AHA)in 2022 was used to evaluate CVH status. Finally, multinomial logit model was used to analyze the impact of demographic economic characteristics on CVH. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were obtained by cluster analysis. In pattern 1, the intake of wheat, other grains, tubers and legumes was higher. Pattern 2 was dominated by high intake of aquatic products, vegetables and fruits; Pattern 3 was dominated by higher intake of rice and livestock meat. The total CVH score was 68.50, and sleep and blood pressure had the highest and lowest scores (85.85 and 37.64). Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 have slightly higher CVH scores. There were 16%–18% of the elderly with high CVH, and there was no significant difference in the distribution of high, moderate and low CVH among the three patterns (p=0.29). More than 50% of the elderly have 3–4 ideal metrics, 0.2% of the elderly have all 8 metrics reached the ideal state only in pattern 1. Multinomial logit analysis showed that the elderly in pattern 2 had 6–8 ideal metrics, which was 1.81 times higher than that in pattern 1; The presence of 6–8 ideal metrics in female was 3.42 times higher than that in male; Those with a college degree and above have 6–8 ideal metrics, which was 1.99 times of those with a primary school degree and below. Compared with 60–69 years, the presence of 6–8 ideal metrics in 70 years and above was 35% lower (OR=0.65,95%=0.49–0.87). The presence of 6–8 ideal metrics in high income group were 31% lower than those in low income group (OR=0.69,95%=0.47–1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The elderly in China were in moderate CVH. Dietary pattern characterized by higher intake of aquatic products, vegetables and fruits were more likely to have more ideal CVH metrics. It is necessary to take targeted intervention measures for the elderly and health factors with low scores to promote the improvement of CVH status.