Link Between Fast-Food Accessibility and Heart Attack
Growing Fast-Food Networks
As fast-food chains continue to expand, recent research has identified a connection between the availability of fast-food outlets and the incidence of heart attacks. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality globally, with numerous studies demonstrating that unhealthy eating habits significantly increase the risk of heart-related issues.
European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
The 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention, published in the European Heart Journal, emphasized the importance of managing the number of fast-food establishments within communities. These guidelines highlighted a strong association between fast-food consumption and heart attacks, independent of other contributing risk factors. Nevertheless, the specific impact of fast-food accessibility was not clearly defined.
Research Study Overview
Researchers from the University of Newcastle in Australia conducted a study to explore the relationship between fast-food accessibility and heart attacks. The findings were shared at the 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). The study examined 3,070 patients hospitalized for heart attacks in the Hunter Region of New South Wales between 2011 and 2013.
Methodology and Key Findings
The researchers accounted for various factors, including age, obesity, high blood lipids, high blood pressure, smoking status, and diabetes. To assess the food environment’s impact, they included participants’ postal codes to analyze the distribution of fast-food outlets. According to survey data from 2018, fast food represented the ten most popular quick-service food options in Australia.
By tallying the total number of fast-food services in different areas, the researchers compared these locations to establish a correlation between fast-food accessibility and heart attack rates. The study revealed that heart attacks were more prevalent in regions with a higher concentration of fast-food restaurants. Notably, for every additional fast-food retailer in a given area, there were four more heart attacks per 100,000 individuals each year.
Implications and Recommendations
While the study demonstrates a clear connection between fast-food accessibility and heart attack occurrences, researchers emphasize the responsibility individuals have regarding their dietary choices. Furthermore, they advocate for community-level interventions to address the heart disease epidemic, promoting better access to stores that offer healthier food options.
References
Piepoli, M., Hoes, A., Agewall, S., Albus, C., Brotons, C., Catapano, A., Cooney, M., Corrà, U., Cosyns, B., Deaton, C., Graham, I., Hall, M., Hobbs, F., Løchen, M., Löllgen, H., Marques-Vidal, P., Perk, J., Prescott, E., Redon, J., Richter, D., Sattar, N., Smulders, Y., Tiberi, M., van der Worp, H., van Dis, I., and Verschuren, W. (2016). 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. European Heart Journal, 37(29), pp.2315-2381.
Conference Abstract: “Impact of Fast food Outlet Density on Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Hunter Region” presented during the “Clinical/Surgery Mini Oral Session” on Saturday, August 10 at 12:20 to 13:20 ACST.
EurekAlert! (2019). Fast food availability linked with more heart attacks. [online] Available at: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/esoc-ffa081119.php [Accessed 14 Aug. 2019].
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