Abstract 17105: Dietary Pattern and Long-term Survival: a Cohort Study of Patients in a Preventive Medicine Clinic

Introduction: Dietary pattern is related to mortality in selected populations with comorbidities. The association of certain dietary patterns with mortality remains unclear in healthy populations. We sought to determine whether recommended dietary patterns are associated with long-term survival in a young, healthy population. Methods: A volunteer sample of 11,503 men and women examined at The Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, with no history of myocardial infarction or stroke, completed a baseline 3-day dietary record from 1987-1999 to assess adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean diets. Deaths from all causes and cardiovascular disease were evaluated over a mean follow-up of 18 years. Results: Mean age was 47 years at baseline. Individuals with the highest DASH diet scores had 32% lower adjusted risk for all-cause mortality compared to those with the lowest DASH diet scores (P Conclusions: The DASH dietary pattern was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality over nearly two decades of follow-up in a young, generally healthy population. High saturated fat intake was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality. These results suggest that promotion of a healthy dietary pattern should begin early in life.