Recent research published in Circulation: Heart Failure has linked access to healthy food to the risk of death from heart failure in the United States.
The study used data from the National Vital Statistics System and the USDA Food Environment Atlas in almost 3,000 counties in the United States. Data on heart failure mortality rates was compared to two food environment indices that measured factors like food insecurity percentage and access to healthy food.
Overall, the results showed that counties with a food security percentage above the national median had a higher rate of deaths from heart failure than counties whose percentage was below the national median. Access to healthy food as measured by the Food Environment Index was also associated with rates of death due to heart failure, with a 1-unit increase in the index corresponding to a 3.6% decrease in the heart failure mortality rate in a given county. Stronger associations between food environments and heart failure mortality were found in the counties with the highest income inequality and the highest poverty rates.
Scientists have noted that the results of this study are unfortunate but not unexpected; previous studies have demonstrated that cardiovascular disease is tied to food insecurity. Food insecurity is associated with cardiovascular disease in part because food insecurity can lead to low diet quality. Diet is an essential part of maintaining and improving cardiovascular health, and a heart-healthy diet should emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, nuts, and legumes. The Mediterranean diet in particular has been associated with positive health outcomes. However, people in many areas of the United States do not have access to affordable, healthy foods that would improve their heart health. For the overall health of Americans, policies may be needed to address the lack of access to healthy, affordable foods in some areas of the country.
Sources: Circulation: Heart Failure, Science Daily
