1. ¹Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Spain
2. ²Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical School, University of Malaga, Spain

Correspondence: MA Martínez-González, Unidad de Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, 31080 Pamplona, Spain. E-mail: mamartinez@unav.es

Guarantor: MA Martínez-González.

Contributors: EF-J was involved in data collection, editing of the article revising it critically for important intellectual content, statistical analysis, approving of the final version. MS-M contributed to the conception and design of the questionnaire, data collection, literature review, editing of the article, statistical analysis and approving of the final version. MW contributed to the conception and design of the questionnaire, editing of the article and approving of the final version. EG-G contributed to the conception and design of the questionnaire, literature review, editing of the article revising it critically for important intellectual content, and approving of the final version.

Received 18 December 2003; Revised 11 March 2004; Accepted 5 April 2004; Published online 26 May 2004.

Abstract

Our objective was to develop a short questionnaire that can be easily used to estimate quantitatively the level of adherence to cardioprotective Mediterranean diets. The short questionnaire assessed the consumption of cardioprotective elements included in the Mediterranean diet (olive oil, wine, fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes and whole-grain intake). A low consumption of meat or meat-products was also included in the composite score. The relative risk of myocardial infarction for each category of the composite score obtained (range 0–9) was computed using data from a case–control study that included 171 cases of first myocardial infarction and 171 matched controls. We found an adjusted odds ratio=0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03–0.97; P=0.04) for those scoring 7–9 points when comparing them with those scoring 1–2 points. An increment of one point in the score was associated with an 18% reduction in the relative risk of myocardial infarction (P=0.05).

Sponsorship: University of Navarre.