Diet in relation to socioeconomic status in patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

Objectives: Nutrient intake, food consumption and fatty acid profile of serum cholesteryl esters (CE) were investigated in relation to education in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Design: A cross-sectional survey in CHD patients selected from hospital records at least six months after hospitalisation. Food record, a questionnaire on dietary fat and fatty acid profile of CE were used to examine diet composition. Years of education, divided into three categories, were used to indicate socioeconomic status.

Setting: The district of Kuopio University Hospital in Finland.

Subjects: One hundred and nine patients with coronary artery bypass surgery, 106 patients with coronary angioplasty, 101 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 99 patients with acute myocardial ischaemia aged 61 y (33–74 y) (mean (range)).

Results: Men with a low level of schooling had a higher intake of total and saturated fat, a lower consumption of vegetables and fruits, more frequently used butter or butter based spread and less frequently used oil compared to the diets of men with middle or high education. Men with low or middle education had a lower intake of alcohol than men with a high level of education. Highly-educated women had a lower proportion of myristic acid in CE than low-educated women and a similar trend between myristic acid and educational level was found in men.

Conclusions: The educational level of men with CHD influenced their nutrient intake and food consumption, but in women with CHD its impact seemed to be weaker.

Sponsorship: The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Finnish Cultural Foundation of Northern Savo, The Aarne and Aili Turunen Foundation, The Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research.