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[Arterial diseases of surgical importance. Long-term control of diet-related risk factors]
1Istituto di Chirurgia Generale e Cardiovascolare, Università di Milano.
Insights
Dietary interventions significantly improved lipid profiles, reducing atherogenic risk in arteriopathic patients. This hygienic-dietetic approach proved effective for managing atherosclerosis and supporting drug therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Vascular Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Arteriosclerosis affects numerous patients, necessitating effective management strategies.
- Lifestyle factors, including diet and smoking, play a crucial role in cardiovascular health.
- Surgical interventions address advanced arteriosclerotic lesions in peripheral and supra-aortic arteries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of adherence to diet therapies on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with arteriosclerosis.
- To compare outcomes between patients who followed prescribed diets and a control group.
- To assess the role of hygienic-dietetic interventions in managing established arteriosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- A decade-long (1980-1990) follow-up of 950 patients with arteriosclerosis.
- Comparison of lipid profiles (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, VLDL), glycemia, BMI, and arterial pressure between diet-adherent patients and a control group (100 patients) who did not adhere to diets.
- Analysis of smoking habits as a risk factor.
Main Results:
- Patients adhering to diet showed significant reductions in cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides.
- No significant variations were observed in glycemia or body weight.
- Dietary adherence led to a reduction in the atherogenic risk index.
- Smoking was prevalent (80%), with 60% quitting upon hospitalization.
Conclusions:
- Hygienic-dietetic interventions are effective in improving lipid profiles and reducing cardiovascular risk in arteriosclerotic patients.
- Dietary management is a valuable tool for preventing the progression of arteriosclerosis and complements drug therapies.
- Lifestyle modifications, particularly diet, are crucial for managing vascular diseases.
Abstract:
From 1980 to 1990 a yearly medical-surgical control was carried out on 950 arteriopathic patients hospitalised in the General and Cardiovascular Surgery Institute, Milan University, during the above mentioned period. The operations for surgical reconstruction were mainly for arteriosclerotic lesions involving the abdominal-peripheral district (750 patients, 79%) and the supra aortic trunks (200 patients, 21%). 84% of the patients were males. Among the patients on follow-up, a relatively modest number (100 patients) did not attend the prescribed diet therapies for several reasons, consequently these patients have been considered as a control group. The comparison, between the patients who attended and those who did not attend the diet, has been made on the basis of the following parameters: cholesterolemia (COL), LDL, HDL, triglyceridemia (TG), VLDL, glycemia (GLI), body mass index (BMI) and arterial pressure (PA). The results have shown a decrease in the absolute normal values of cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, while they have not shown the same significant variations regarding glycemia and body weight. In accordance with the literature, the diet seems to have obtained satisfactory results, especially regarding the values of lipidemia, with a reduction in the atherogenic risk index. Regarding smoke as a risk factor it has been shown that it is present in 80% of the patients at the beginning: 60% of the patients stop smoking at the moment they are hospitalised and the remaining 20% continue smoking. The hygienic-dietetic intervention is confirmed, also in our experience, as a curative, or even more, a preventive tool against the worsening of an already overt arteriosclerosis as well as a necessary support for drug therapies.