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Observational Study
. 2017 Sep 16;17(1):247.
doi: 10.1186/s12872-017-0678-z.

Nutrition in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular risk in the continental and Mediterranean regions of Croatia

Jozica Sikic  1   2 , Mira Stipcevic  3 , Hrvoje Vrazic  3 , Jasna Cerkez Habek  1 , Eduard Margetic  4   2 , Dario Gulin  5   6
Affiliations
Observational Study

Nutrition in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular risk in the continental and Mediterranean regions of Croatia

Jozica Sikic et al. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effect of Mediterranean and continental nutrition on cardiovascular risk in patients with acute and chronic coronary heart disease in Croatia.

Methods: The study included 1284 patients who were hospitalized in a 28-month period due to acute or chronic ischaemic heart disease in hospitals across Croatia. An individual questionnaire was prepared which enabled recording of various cardiovascular risk factors.

Results: Patients with chronic coronary artery disease have a better index of healthy diet than patients with acute coronary disease. Women have a better index of diet than men in both Croatian regions. When the prevalence of risk factors (impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus types I and II, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypertension) in patients with Mediterranean and continental nutrition is compared, a trend is seen for patients who have risk factors to consume healthier food.

Conclusion: The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This effect is more evident in patients with known cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factor; Coronary heart disease; Croatia; Mediterranean diet; Primary prevention; Secondary prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia, project number 108–1080135-126 (Risk factors by region in hospitalised coronary heart disease patients, led by Prof. Mijo Bergovec) which is a part of a programme of projects number 1080135 (Regionalism, dynamics of cardiovascular risk factors and health interventions, led by Prof. Mijo Bergovec); registration date February 8th 2007. All patients involved in this study have signed an informed consent statement.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

Jozica Sikic, Mira Stipcevic, Jasna Cerkez Habek, Eduard Margetic and Dario Gulin have no conflict of interest relating to this paper. Hrvoje Vrazic has been an employee of Novo Nordisk since January 2017.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Type of diet (index) by gender, and acute/chronic coronary disease
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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