A new meta-analysis reveals that sticking to the Mediterranean diet can reduce heart failure risk, with stronger benefits for women. Could the power of anti-inflammatory foods be the key to heart health? Study: Effect of the Mediterranean diet on incidence of heart failure in European countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies . Image Credit: leonori / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition , researchers investigated the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) and heart failure (HF) risk in European countries.
They found that increased adherence to the Med Diet was associated with a significantly reduced risk of HF, especially in women. Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide, contributing to rising hospitalizations and economic burden. HF, a common CVD, is associated with poor survival rates, with about 50% of patients surviving five years post-diagnosis.
Its prevalence increases with age, affecting up to 20% of people over 80. Given these outcomes, effective prevention strategies are crucial to reducing HF incidence and improving patient outcomes. The Mediterranean diet is rich in monounsaturated fats (from olive oil), which reduce inflammation and improve heart health, lowering heart failure risk.
The Med Diet has been linked to reduced all-cause mortality and cardiovascular risk, including in patients with HF. However, evidence from observational .