The MedDietScore as a useful tool to detect subjects prone to nutrition-related health conditions and cardiovascular disease

For a proposed Mediterranean Diet Score, positive and negative predictive values in relation to hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and obesity status were calculated and the 10-year CHD risk was estimated based on Framingham equations, in participants of the ATTICA study (n=3042, Athens metropolitan area, aged 18-89 years). For this diet score, consumption of items close to the Mediterranean dietary pattern (non-refined cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, fish and potatoes) was scored 0-5 for never, rare, frequent, very frequent, weekly and daily consumption whilst the consumption of foods away from the Mediterranean dietary pattern (red meat and products, poultry and full fat dairy products) was scored on a reverse scale. The positive predictive values of the score regarding hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and obesity were 45%, 46%, 12% and 33%, and the negative predictive values 86%, 71%, 98% and 97%, respectively. A 10-unit increase in diet adherence scoring was associated with a 4% lower 10-year CHD risk (P<0.001).

Abstract