Exclusive olive oil consumption and 10-year (2004-2014) acute coronary syndrome incidence among cardiac patients: the GREECS observational study.

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluated the association between long-term, exclusive olive oil consumption, in cooking preparation or as a dressing, and the 10-year (2004-2014) incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among cardiac patients. METHODS: From October 2003 to September 2004, a sample of 2172 ACS consecutive patients from six major Greek hospitals were enrolled. During 2013-2014, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 1918 patients (88% participation rate). The development of fatal or nonfatal ACS was recorded through medical records or hospital registries. Among other dietary components, added fats (i.e. olive oil, butter, margarine and seed oils) consumption at baseline examination was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Non-exclusive olive oil consumption on a daily basis was associated with an adverse effect on the ACS incidence after taking into account various potential confounders [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.86, P = 0.024]. However, significant interactions between olive oil consumption and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.082) and educational level (P = 0.054) led to further stratified analysis. Using BMI as strata (i.e. ≤29.9 versus >29.9 kg m(-2)), the above association remained significant only in obese patients (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.03-3.12, P = 0.038), whereas, on examining the education status (i.e. ≤9 versus >9 years of school), a significant association was observed only among the higher educated patients (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.01-3.32, P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive use of olive oil, either as a salad dressing or in cooking, should be promoted through the dietary management of ACS patients, with the aim of reducing the likelihood of recurrent cardiac episodes.

The association between occupational stress and the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes: the CARDIO2000 Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between occupational stress and the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes, in a population-based sample of patients and controls. METHODOLOGY: During 2000-01, a case-control study was conducted (CARDIO2000). A random and stratified sample of 848 middle aged patients with a first of an acute coronary syndrome and 1078 cardiovascular disease free participants, matched with the patients by gender, age and region, was selected from all regions of Greece. In addition to the common cardiovascular risk factors, the effect of occupational stress on coronary risk was evaluated, after taking into account income, marital status, educational and occupational level of the participants. The levels of occupational stress were measured by administering to the individuals a self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: After controlling for age, gender and region, by design, and the presence of smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, physical activity status, educational and financial status and nutritional habits, multivariate analysis showed that the levels of occupational stress are positively associated with the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes in the investigated sample (Odds Ratio = 2.2, p < 0.01). Moreover, the presence of occupational stress seems to affect more significantly males than females, smokers than non-smokers, hypertensives than normotensives and high alcohol consumers compared to low alcohol consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Although the design of the present study does not provide evidence of causality, a strong positive association between occupational stress and acute coronary syndromes seems to exist. Thus, public health policies should take into account lifestyle conditions related to work in the design of preventive strategies at the primary level.