Regional differences in healthy food consumption among patients on peritoneal dialysis in Brazil: the QUALI-DIET-PD Study

Background Diet quality is an important component of care for patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), who are at risk of nutritional disturbances. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the intake of food groups among patients on PD from different regions, to compare their intake with that of the general population, and to assess factors independently associated with the consumption of these selected foods. Methods Cross-sectional study including prevalent patients on PD from four of the five Brazilian geographic regions (QUALI-DIET-PD). Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to assess the intake of four food groups (beans, raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, and fruits), and the prevalence of consumption ≥ 5 times per week were compared between patients across participating centers and with the general population according to the Brazilian national epidemiological surveillance system (VIGITEL). A composite Healthy Foods Score based on the frequency of consumption of four selected plant-based food groups was calculated, with higher scores indicating greater consumption of selected healthy food groups. Results We included 360 patients (52% male; age 60 [45–70] years). The frequency of intake of all food groups differed across regions ( p < 0.001) and between the patients on PD and the general population for some subgroups ( p < 0.05). The Healthy Foods Score was 24.5 (18.0–33.5) and was correlated with age ( r = 0.12; p = 0.02) and associated with diabetes ( p = 0.03). Significant regional differences were observed ( p < 0.001), with the highest scores in the Central-West region. In multivariable analysis, geographical region was independently associated with the Healthy Foods Score. Conclusion Among Brazilian PD patients, food intake varies significantly by participating center, with geographic region being independently associated with more frequent consumption of the selected healthy food groups. In some areas, patients reported higher consumption of healthy foods than the general population.