Abstract: PO2027
Attitudes Toward Plant-Based Eating (PBE), Self-Reported Habits, and Relationship to BMI and Blood Pressure in a Population of Inner-City CKD/ESKD Patients
Session Information
- Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism: Clinical
October 22, 2020 | Location: On-Demand
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
- 1300 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
Authors
- Saleh, Ahmad, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Cruickshank, Kingsley, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Morancy, Takisha, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Nadeem, Iqra, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Markell, Mariana, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
Background
The benefits of a PBE dietary pattern are well described, yet there is scarcity in the literature on the attitudes of CKD/ESKD patients regarding PBE as well as their self-reported habits.
Methods
A face-to-face survey was conducted in a random convenience sample patients from CKD clinic (15), Transplant clinic (12), and the Dialysis Unit (4). Pts were asked to answer questions assessing their attitudes and understanding of PBE using a 5-point Likert scale, and to rate their daily vegetable intake. There was no difference noted in answers among the clinics so all data were analyzed together. All comparisons are by t-test unless noted.
Results
Mean age was 54.7±1.7 yrs. There were 16 (53%) men and 14 (47%) women with 25 Black (81%). 12 people (40%) had an income < $20K, with 10 (33%) between $20K and 40K. 10 (33%) were employed. 64.5% (20) were interested in learning more about PBE; 35% had never heard of it. 22(71%) reported consuming animal protein 1-3x/d or more. 20 (57%) reported consuming plant-based foods less <1/d or never. Pts who did not eat plant-based foods had a higher BMI than those who consumed plants (30.9±1.86, p<0.05), and higher systolic and diastolic BP (144.3±5.9 vs 126±5.2, p<0.05 and 77.9±3.5 vs 66.3±4.1, p=0.019).
46.4% thought it would be difficult to find things to eat at restaurants, 51.7% thought it would be difficult to buy food or groceries on a budget; 46.4% thought they could not get all the protein they need from plant-based foods without eating animal meat or products; 40.7% thought it would be hard to get all the vitamins and nutrients but 63.1% thought it would be easy to find recipes that taste good if they followed PBE.
Conclusion
In our population: 1. The majority of pts were interested in learning about PBE but ate few to no vegetables on a daily basis. 2. Possible obstacles to introducing PBE in this populations are misconceptions including the difficulty of affording food, getting enough protein and finding something to eat when eating out, believed by almost half of those surveyed. 3. Intensive educational programs targeted towards our population should be developed as pts who ate more vegetables had lower BMI and both systolic and diastolic BP and in general PBE has been shown beneficial for pts with CKD/ESKD.