Healthy eating score and all-cause mortality: prospective findings from the Chilean National Health Survey (original) (raw)

Lanuza, Fabián, Díaz-Toro, Felipe, Nazar, Gabriela, Concha-Cisternas, Yeny, Martorell, Miquel, Parra-Soto, Solange, Lasserre-Laso, Nicole, Meroño, Tomas, Petermann-Rocha, Fanny and Celis-Morales, Carlos ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2612-3917(2025) Healthy eating score and all-cause mortality: prospective findings from the Chilean National Health Survey.British Journal of Nutrition, (doi: 10.1017/S0007114525104212) (PMID:40797286) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Adherence to healthy dietary patterns, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is linked to improved health outcomes. However, limited research has explored this association in Latin American populations. This study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to a healthy eating score (unweighted and weighted) and all-cause mortality risk in a Chilean population. This longitudinal study included 5,336 Chilean participants from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016 and 2017. Six healthy eating habits were considered to produce the healthy eating score (range: 0–12): consumption of seafood, whole grain, dairy, fruits, vegetables and legumes. A weighted score was also developed. Participants were categorized into quartiles based on their final scores, with the healthiest quartile used as the reference group. Associations between healthy eating score and all-cause mortality were performed using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for confounders. After a median follow-up of 5.1 years, 276 (5.2%) participants died. In the fully-adjusted model, compared with participants in the healthiest quartile of the score (Q4), those in the unhealthiest quartile (Q1) had 1.61 (95%CI: 1.14-2.27) times higher all-cause mortality risk. A similar association was observed for the weighted healthy eating score [1.52 (95%CI: 1.03-2.23)]. An inverse trend was observed for both scores (p<0.05). Sensitivity analyses excluding participants who died within the first two years showed consistent results 1.63 (95%CI: 1.09-2.42). Individuals with the lowest healthy eating score (unweighted or weighted) had a higher mortality risk compared to their counterparts. A healthy eating score is associated with mortality risk in the Chilean population.

Item Type: Articles
Additional Information: Funding sources: FL receives support from the Chilean Government by the Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID); [FONDECYT Iniciación 11250095].
Keywords: Dietary pattern, food groups, health, Latin American, mortality.
Status: Early Online Publication
Refereed: Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Celis, Dr Carlos and Petermann-Rocha, Mrs Fanny
Authors: Lanuza, F., Díaz-Toro, F., Nazar, G., Concha-Cisternas, Y., Martorell, M., Parra-Soto, S., Lasserre-Laso, N., Meroño, T., Petermann-Rocha, F., and Celis-Morales, C.
College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name: British Journal of Nutrition
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISSN: 0007-1145
ISSN (Online): 1475-2662
Published Online: 13 August 2025
Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s), 2025
First Published: First published in British Journal of Nutrition 2025
Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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Deposit and Record Details

ID Code: 361937
Depositing User: Ms Jacqui Brannan
Datestamp: 13 Aug 2025 10:51
Last Modified: 08 Oct 2025 08:31
Date of acceptance: 6 August 2025
Date of first online publication: 13 August 2025
Date Deposited: 13 August 2025
Data Availability Statement: Yes