Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Iranian Women

ABSTRACT

We evaluated whether food insecurity is associated with clinical evidence of diet-sensitive cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. In this population-based cross-sectional study, 630 women aged 18–50 years under cover of health centers in Iran randomly selected and interviewed face-to-face. Food insecurity was evaluated using a household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) questionnaire, which its validity and reliability was determined in the Iranian population. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between food insecurity and having CVD risk factors including general and abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), hypertriglyceridemia, and diabetes. The probability of having hypertriglyceridemia (Adjusted OR = 2.04, P = .031), general obesity (Adjusted OR = 2.43, P = .029), abdominal obesity (Adjusted OR = 2.09, P = .024), and hypertension (Adjusted OR = 2.04, P = .038) increased with exacerbation of women’s food insecurity condition. The odds ratio of having CVD risk factors became stronger after adjusting for confounders. Food insecurity was associated with increased risk of CVD risk factors among Iranian reproductive-age women. Efforts to improve food security conditions among women might be associated with reductions in the incidence of CVD-related metabolic risks.

KEYWORDS:

• Food insecurity
• cardiovascular disease
• obesity
• dyslipidemia
• Iran

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants for their collaboration and the Research Vice-Chancellor of Zabol University of Medical Sciences for their financial support.

Authors’ contribution

Soudabeh Hamedi-Shahraki carried out the design of the study and participated in data analysis and prepared the first draft of the manuscript. Fatemeh Mir provided assistance in the measurement of biochemical values, gathering data especially anthropometric and dietary intake data. Farshad Amirkhizi provided assistance in the design of the study, coordinated in prepared the manuscript, supervised data collection and edited the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

There are no competing financial interests in relation to the current study.

Ethical approval

This cross-sectional study was approved by Ethics Committee of Zabol University of Medical sciences (ethics code number: IR.ZBMU.REC.1397.189).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Zabol University of Medical Sciences.