Mediterranean Diet Improves ACS Outcomes

Following a Mediterranean-style diet might protect against recurrent cardiac episodes among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to a recent study.

In their study, the researchers recruited 1000 patients who were hospitalized with ACS between 2006 through 2009. At the 10-year follow-up, 75% of participants returned for assessment, of whom 690 (69%) patients with first-diagnosed ACS were included in the final analysis.
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The researchers assessed adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the MedDietScore and classified participants by heart failure phenotype as either reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF), or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the researchers found a significant inverse association between MedDietScores and long-term ACS prognosis in 1-year (odd ratio [OR] 0.84), 2-year (OR 0.91), and 10-years follow-up (OR 0.93).

Additional analyses showed that the MedDietScore differentially affected the prognosis of patients based on heart failure phenotype. Patients with HFrEF and HRmrEF experienced short-term benefits from the Mediterranean diet, whereas those with HFpEF experienced more long-term benefits. The relationship between the Mediterranean diet and heart failure phenotype appeared to be mediated by C-reactive protein.

“Mediterranean diet seemed to protect against recurrent cardiac episodes in coronary patients with major ACS complications. Results were more encouraging with regard to patients with preserved left ventricle function,” the researchers concluded. “Such findings may possess a cost-effective, supplementary-to-medical, treatment approach in this patient category where evidence concerning their management are inconclusive.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Kouvari M, Chrysohoou C, Aggelopoulos P, et al. Mediterranean diet and prognosis of first-diagnosed acute coronary syndrome patients according to heart failure phenotype: Hellenic Heart Failure Study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017;71: 1321–1328. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2017.122.