[Does total cardiovascular risk level affect the habit of daily unprocessed red meat intake in the general...

Irrational consumption of red meat (RM) can have a significant impact on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The extent to which the gradient of cardiovascular risk (CVR) affects the formation of healthy eating habits among the population is of scientific and practical interest. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between the total level of CVR and daily consumption of unprocessed red meat (URM) in the general informal population.

As part of the multicenter ESSE-RF study, a representative sample of the urban population of the Siberian Federal District aged 25-64 years (n=1600, 59% women) was examined. Daily consumption of URM (150 g beef, pork, lamb, etc.) and total CVR were determined using a standard questionnaire and SCORE scale, taking into account the presence of a priori risk indicators, respectively. Methods of descriptive statistics and logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographic, lifestyle and medical factors were used.

52.1% of men and 41.9% of women consumed URM daily. By CVR category this indicator did not vary in men (p=0.883) and decreased in women (p<0.001) from 51.1% with low CVR to 31.6% with very high CVR. With a SCORE of 5-9% and ≥10%, 48.0 and 50.0% of men and 38.1 and 20.0% of women consumed URM daily; with a priori high or very high CVR, 55.6 and 54.6% of men and 34.8 and 31.9% of women, respectively. Multivariable analysis did not reveal independent associations of the indicator surveyed with SCORE-related risk categories in either men or women. The odds for daily URM intake in women decreased significantly only with a priori very high CVR compared with low risk [OR=0.44; CI (0.22-0.87), p=0.018], as well as in the presence of carotid plaques (OR=0.54; CI (0.37-0.77), p=0.001]. Gender differences were observed in the general [ORwomen=0.68; CI (0.55-0.84), p<0.001], apparently healthy population [OR=0.77; CI (0.61-0.97), p=0.028], the groups of moderate [OR=0.61; CI (0.40-0.94), p=0.025] and a priori very high CVR [OR=0.40; CI (0.24-0.69), p=0.001], in the presence of carotid plaques [OR=0.39; CI (0.26-0.58), р<0.001], coronary heart disease [OR=0.35; CI (0.18-0.69), p=0.002], CVD (OR=0.38; CI (0.21-0.73), р=0.003), systolic blood pressure ≥180 mm Hg [OR=0.26; CI (0.07-1.03), p=0.055).

The data obtained indicate that the SCORE-based CVR level by itself is not a sufficient incentive for people to change the eating habit surveyed. The odds for daily URM consumption decreased only in women of a priori very high risk. At the same time, the study showed that subclinical parameters, in particular carotid plaques, may be equally effective in motivating, particularly for women, to change this eating habit. The gender differences identified may reflect differences between the sexes in terms of communication and/or perception of these factors as an incentive to change the diet. The data obtained emphasize importance of informing the population about the risks associated with irrational RM consumption and the need for more active involvement, especially of men, in communications aimed at forming healthier patterns of these foods consumption.