Abstract
Background: People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study describes modifiable CVD risk factors and their associations with diet and physical activity in New Zealand (NZ) adults with IBD.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022. Online questionnaires collected demographics, IBD, diet (food frequency questionnaire), and physical activity data. Clinical measures included anthropometrics, blood pressure, handgrip strength, body composition (bioelectrical impedance), and biological markers. Data were compared to NZ guidelines or established population/CVD reference values. Linear regression investigated associations between diet, physical activity and CVD risk factors.
Results: One hundred two adults with mostly disease remission to mildly active IBD (53% Crohn’s disease) participated. Median age was 38 (LQ, UQ: 25,51) years, 58% were female, and 92% were NZ European. A proportion of participants had low intakes of vegetables (85.3%), fruit (62.7%), and dietary fiber (45.1%), and high saturated fat (99.0%) and sodium (60.8%) intake. Approximately 28% of participants were physically inactive. Modifiable CVD risk factors were: central adiposity (64%), high body fat percentage (42%), low handgrip strength (26%), high LDL-cholesterol (22%), and elevated blood pressure (19%). Regression analyses found that high intakes of discretionary foods, red meat, poultry, and eggs; and low intakes of legumes, lentils, vegetables, dietary fiber, and seafood were associated with several CVD risk factors. Physical activity was not associated with any CVD factors.
Conclusions: Adults with IBD have modifiable CVD risk factors amenable to dietary changes, while physical activity remains a valuable adjunct given its well-known cardiovascular benefits.