Association between depression symptoms and mediterian dietary adherence in adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors in the north of Iran in 2016

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is prevalent in cardiovascular patients and may have significant effects on patients’ adherence to their diet which is necessary for health. Aim: The study aimed to examine the association between depression and dietary adherence in adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors in the north of Iran. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 344 participants who were admitted to a tertiary hospital in Rasht. The participants’ demographic characteristics, blood pressure, anthropometrics indexes and blood factors were measured. To assess the dietary adherence, we used the 14-point Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) validated for this region and to check depression, we used Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the data. Results: Depression symptoms were observed in 43% of the patients. The frequency of patients with low, moderate and good dietary adherence was 44%, 54% and 2%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, there was a relationship between depression and dietary adherence. In the univariate analysis, being female, being diabetic, high waist circumference, high HbA1C and low level of hematocrit were associated with lower diet adherence. After controlling for confounders, no relationship was discovered between depression and dietary adherence (P = 0.249). Odds ratio of the low dietary adherence in patients with depression compared with patients without depression was 1.311 (95%CI: 0.827–2.079). Discussion: Depression symptoms and dietary non-adherence were prevalent in our participants. Also our data showed there were no association between depression and mediterian dietary adherence.  Conclusions: More studies are needed to further consolidate our understanding of the association between depression symptoms and dietary adherence.