Key result
Low dark green leafy vegetable intake is linked to ~3-fold higher odds of cardiovascular conditions.
Why the study?
The dietary factors influencing the development of cardiovascular conditions among young adults attending the cardiac clinic at Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital needed to be determined.
Do dietary factors and food consumption patterns influence the development of cardiovascular conditions in young adults aged 25–44 years attending a cardiac clinic in Kenya?
Cross-Sectional (n=141)
No
Do dietary factors and food consumption patterns influence the development of cardiovascular conditions in young adults aged 25–44 years attending a cardiac clinic in Kenya?
This cross-sectional study in Kenya highlights that while young adults attending a cardiac clinic had high daily vegetable intake, they also had high daily consumption of oils/fats and sweets alongside deficits in fruits, fish, and legumes, which were significantly associated with cardiovascular conditions.
Associations between diet and cardiovascular conditions in young adults are hypothesis-generating; prospective studies needed before guiding recommendations.
Purpose: This study determined the factors influencing development of cardiovascular conditions among young adults seeking services at the cardiac clinic of CGTRH. Methodology: This study had employed analytical cross-sectional survey design with quantitative methods, the study was carried out at CGTRH, the target population was 222 young adults who have been visiting the Cardiac clinic for the last 4 months. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 141 subjects into the study. To collect data from the subjects’, structured questionnaires were employed. Pretesting of the questionnaires were done at Kilifi County Referral Hospital. The study was conducted for one month through a nurse and research assistant who identified the study participants using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Version 26 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to examine quantitative data. Measures of central tendency were used to characterize continuous variables. The logistic regression was used in inferential statistics to ascertain the relationship between the research variables. Tables, charts, and graphs were used to display the analyzed data. The Institutional Research and Ethics Committee (IREC) of Mount Kenya University granted approval and permission to conduct the study. Findings: The study also revealed that 94% of the participants consumed vitamin-rich vegetables on a daily basis and 41.3% of them consumed dark green leafy vegetables 5–6 days per week. This is good news because vegetables are high in dietary fibre, antioxidants, potassium and phytochemicals that aid in lowering blood pressure, endothelial function and reduce inflammation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Health promotion programs should promote frequent, moderate consumption of low-fat dairy products as part of a balanced diet, as the results showed a negative correlation between increased consumption of milk and milk products and hypertension
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Moraa et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular conditions (n=141). Dietary factors (dark green leafy vegetable consumption) vs. Higher vs lower consumption frequency was evaluated on Association between dark green leafy vegetable consumption and cardiovascular conditions (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.10-4.20, p=0.013). Dietary factors, including low dark green leafy vegetable intake (AOR 3.05, 95% CI 1.10-4.20, p=0.013) and daily sweet consumption (AOR 5.88, p=0.004), were associated with cardiovascular conditions.
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