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Session: Nutritional Assessment and Methods (Oral 22)

(OR22-05-24) Development of a Comprehensive Diet and Lifestyle Quality Index for Application in Epidemiological Studies

Monday, July 1, 2024
10:48 AM – 11:00 AM CT
Location:  W375D

    Presenting Author(s)

  • GS

    GIna S. Siapco, DrPH

    Associate Professor
    Loma Linda University
    San Bernardino, California, United States

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • BC

    Belén Carlino

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • SL

    Sara Leeson

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • RG

    Rocio V. Gili

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • IC

    Ismael A. Contreras-Guillén

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • DX

    Daniel Xutuc

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • FP

    Fabio J. Pacheco

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

  • MM

    Martin L. Mayta

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata; Cátedra de Biología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina

  • CN

    Camila Niclis

    Centro de Investigación en Nutrición Humana, Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (CONICET- UNC), Argentina

  • SO

    Sandaly Oliveira Da Silva Pacheco

    Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Argentina

Objectives: Diet and lifestyle are closely interrelated, but most studies focus on the independent associations or effects of these factors on health and disease outcomes. An interplay between these factors may be synergistic but this has not been sufficiently investigated. Our aim was to develop a comprehensive diet and lifestyle index and evaluate its use in determining differences according to sociodemographic and health characteristics of an Argentine adult population.

Methods: The Diet and Lifestyle Quality Index (DLQI) was developed with 49 indicators of 7 lifestyle dimensions: eating habits, physical activity, sleep/rest, sunlight exposure, religiosity, toxic habits, and mental well-being. The DLQI scoring system was based on adherence to established recommendations and/or scientific evidence; total scores ranged from 0 to 100 points. The DLQI was applied to data gathered from a cross-sectional study on adults aged 18+ years from various regions of Argentina (n=2238). Participants responded to an online questionnaire comprising a food frequency questionnaire section and sections on lifestyle and demographics. ANOVA and t-tests were done to determine differences among groups at α=0.05.

Results: Study sample’s mean age was 37 ± 14 years and 68% were women. DLQI scores ranged from 23 to 84 points (mean [SD] = 56.3 [10.2]). Women, those over 33 years (median age), and individuals with university education obtained higher scores (p < 0.05). Singles and rural residents had lower scores (p < 0.001). Individuals with obesity or with self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, high cholesterol, migraine, anxiety, depression, chronic kidney disease, or fatty liver scored lower than those without these diagnoses (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The DLQI showed significant differences according to certain sociodemographic profile and health conditions, and thus, has potential as a tool to comprehensively assess lifestyle quality. Further evaluation is needed to determine DLQI’s ability to evaluate the role of lifestyle in determining health/disease risk particularly in epidemiological research.

Funding Sources: Grants for Research and School Partnerships (GRASP) International, Loma Linda University