Advanced heart disease in Soweto

Feeding the emergence of advanced heart disease in Soweto: a nutritional survey of black African patients with heart failure

Aim: To describe dietary habits and potential nutritional deficiencies in black African patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF).

Methods and Results: Dietary intake in 50 consecutively consenting HF patients (mean age: 47 ± 18 years, 54% female) attending a major hospital in Soweto, South Africa were surveyed using validated quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Food intakes, translated into nutrient data were compared with recommended values. In women, food choices likely to negatively impact on heart health includ-ed added sugar [consumed by 75%: median daily intake (interquartile range) 16 g (10–20)], sweet drinks [54%: 310 ml (85–400)] and salted snacks [61%: 15 g (2–17)]. [Download PDF]

Pretorius S, Sliwa K, Ruf R, Walker K, Stewart S, Feeding the emergence of advanced heart disease in Soweto: a nutritional survey of black African patients with heart failure, Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, 2011: July