| Summary: | BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Longstanding poor nutrition habits and lack of exercise contribute to chronic inflammation and promote the development ASCVD. In clinical trials, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern, a diet rich in nutrients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension. Its role in overall cardiovascular (CV) health, both alone and in combination with an active lifestyle, is less clear.
OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study is to examine the relationships between the DASH eating pattern, physical activity, the development of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, we will evaluate the independent and combined effects of DASH and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on cardiovascular event risk among men and women in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring (FOS) cohort.
METHODS: The DASH score was derived from two sets of three-day dietary records gathered during examination visits 3 and 5 in the prospective FOS cohort. Activity was self-reported and used to generate a composite score for MVPA. Scores were constructed for each individual by multiplying the number of hours spent during each day in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity by a standard weights reflecting the intensity of that activity. Subjects included 2503 individuals (1137 men and 1366 women), aged 30 years and older. Individuals were free of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease at baseline. The DASH score was categorized according to adherence to the eating pattern, first as low, moderate, or high adherence and then dichotomized (DASH score <4.45 vs. ≥4.45). The MVPA score was classified into quintiles and also dichotomized (MVPA score <6.1 vs. ≥6.1). The dichotomous DASH and MVPA scores were then cross-classified and each subject was assigned to one of the following categories: (1) low DASH score / low activity (referent), (2) low DASH / high activity, (3) high DASH / low activity, and (4) high DASH / high activity. Follow-up started at exam 5 and continued through the ninth examination cycle in 2014. Cox proportional-hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all subjects and for men and women independently, adjusting for confounding by age, BMI, cigarettes smoked per day, and grams per day of alcohol consumed. Factors found not to confound the effects of DASH and MVPA on CV risk were excluded from final models.
RESULTS: During a median follow-up of approximately 20 years, 286 and 177 incident CVD cases were documented among men and women, respectively. Women in the highest DASH adherence category had approximately 28% lower total CVD risk than women in
the lowest adherence group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI: 0.48-1.10). Effects in men were weaker. Women in the highest quintile of MVPA score had approximately 44% lower risk of CVD than women in the lowest quintile (HR, 0.66; 95% (0.40-1.10). Overall, CVD risk was 26% lower (HR: 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55-0.99) for those in quintile 5 vs. quintile 1. Women in the High DASH/High MVPA category had a 43% lower total CVD risk than women in the Low DASH/Low MVPA group (High DASH/High MVPA: HR, 0.57; 95% (0.36-0.90)). These associations ere generally stronger in women than men.
CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort study, active individuals with higher adherence to DASH was associated with a lower atherosclerotic CVD risk compared to those with lower activity and DASH adherence. The beneficial effects of diet in particular were stronger among women than men.
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