Diet quality according to age group of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from primary health care centres in Copiapó (Chile)
Fernández-Cao JC1, Doepking C1, Rojas Calisto J1, Aguirre C2, Vigorena A2, Quinteros M3, Vergara G3, Varas N3, Cuadra C3, Garrido V3, Bustos M2, Rojas C2
1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile; 2. CODIACO Study, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile; and 3. Bachelor´s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile.
Background and aims: Globally, 537 million adults (20-79 years) had diabetes mellitus in 2021 (10.5%), and the estimate is projected to rise to over 643 million (11.3%) by 2030 (1). The estimated prevalence for Chile was 12.7%, 90–95% of which were type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cases (1). In the last decades, it has been shown the importance of diet quality in the management and prognosis of T2DM (2). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate diet quality in subjects with T2DM from primary health care centres (PHCC) in Copiapo according to age group.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed within the CODIACO cohort, with data collected on 160 participants during 2023. This population-based study involved women and men from 30 to 65 years, with T2DM, and users of PHCCs of Copiapo. Pregnant and lactating women, patients with diabetic neuropathy or nephropathy, cancer, and severe infectious or inflammatory diseases were excluded. Sociodemographic data were recorded, and diet quality was measured through a Mediterranean dietary index (MDI) validated in the Chilean population (3). Participants were categorised by age (≤ 50 years, 50-60 years, ≥ 60 years). The following categories were considered for MDI score: high (9-14 points), moderate (5-8.5 points), and low (<5 points) adherence. One-factor analysis of variance with the Bonferroni correction test and Chi-square test were used to assess differences in MDI according to age groups. The results were expressed as percentages or mean and standard deviation. A p-value of less than 0.050 was considered statistically significant. The CODIACO study was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the University de Atacama. The project was funded by FONDECYT (N° 11180794).
Results: The mean age of the participants was 55.64 ± 7.48 years, and the MDI score was 6.28 (moderate diet quality). 19.4% of subjects ≤ 50 years, 13.7% of those aged 50-60 years, and 27.5% of those ≥ 60 years had low diet quality. Moderate diet quality was found in the majority of individuals from the three groups, with 72.2%, 78.1%, and 60.8%, respectively. Only 8.3% of the subjects ≤ 50 years, 8.2% of those aged 50-60 years, and 11.8% of those ≥ 60 years had high diet quality. No significant differences were observed between the means of the MDI scores of each group (p=0.578), nor in the proportion of subjects with low, medium or high diet quality in each group (p=0.325).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed subjects with T2DM and users of the PHCCs of Copiapo (Chile) had a moderate diet quality, mainly. The proportion of patients with low, moderate, and high diet quality was similar among those ≤ 50 years, those 50-60 years, and those ≥ 60 years. Further investigations are needed to evaluate in depth the diet in this population.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, diet quality, primary health care.
References:
1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2021. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org
2. Ley SH, Hamdy O, Mohan V et al. (2014) Lancet 383, 1999–2007.
3. Echeverría G, Urquiaga I, Concha et al. (2016) Rev Med Chil 144, 1531–43.
Acknowledgments: We thank all the participants of the CODIACO study for their enthusiastic collaboration, the CODIACO personnel for their excellent assistance, and the bachelor's degree students for their important cooperation. Thanks also to the Municipal Health Directorate, the Municipal Laboratory and the personnel of the primary health care centres of Copiapo for their invaluable collaboration. We are also grateful to the Bruno Zabala Fredes School, the Hernán Márquez Huerta School, the Rosario Central Neighborhood Council, the Professional Technical School of Copiapo (ETP), as well as the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Science, and the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics for all their support.
This study was funded by the Chilean Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (FONDECYT 11180794).

Diet quality according to age group of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from primary health care centres in Copiapó (Chile)
Fernández-Cao JC1, Doepking C1, Rojas Calisto J1, Aguirre C2, Vigorena A2, Quinteros M3, Vergara G3, Varas N3, Cuadra C3, Garrido V3, Bustos M2, Rojas C2
1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile; 2. CODIACO Study, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile; and 3. Bachelor´s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Atacama, Copiapo, Chile.
**Background and aims:** Globally, 537 million adults (20-79 years) had diabetes mellitus in 2021 (10.5%), and the estimate is projected to rise to over 643 million (11.3%) by 2030 (1). The estimated prevalence for Chile was 12.7%, 90–95% of which were type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cases (1). In the last decades, it has been shown the importance of diet quality in the management and prognosis of T2DM (2). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate diet quality in subjects with T2DM from primary health care centres (PHCC) in Copiapo according to age group.
**Methods:** A cross-sectional study was performed within the CODIACO cohort, with data collected on 160 participants during 2023. This population-based study involved women and men from 30 to 65 years, with T2DM, and users of PHCCs of Copiapo. Pregnant and lactating women, patients with diabetic neuropathy or nephropathy, cancer, and severe infectious or inflammatory diseases were excluded. Sociodemographic data were recorded, and diet quality was measured through a Mediterranean dietary index (MDI) validated in the Chilean population (3). Participants were categorised by age (≤ 50 years, 50-60 years, ≥ 60 years). The following categories were considered for MDI score: high (9-14 points), moderate (5-8.5 points), and low (<5 points) adherence. One-factor analysis of variance with the Bonferroni correction test and Chi-square test were used to assess differences in MDI according to age groups. The results were expressed as percentages or mean and standard deviation. A p-value of less than 0.050 was considered statistically significant. The CODIACO study was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the University de Atacama. The project was funded by FONDECYT (N° 11180794).
**Results:** The mean age of the participants was 55.64 ± 7.48 years, and the MDI score was 6.28 (moderate diet quality). 19.4% of subjects ≤ 50 years, 13.7% of those aged 50-60 years, and 27.5% of those ≥ 60 years had low diet quality. Moderate diet quality was found in the majority of individuals from the three groups, with 72.2%, 78.1%, and 60.8%, respectively. Only 8.3% of the subjects ≤ 50 years, 8.2% of those aged 50-60 years, and 11.8% of those ≥ 60 years had high diet quality. No significant differences were observed between the means of the MDI scores of each group (p=0.578), nor in the proportion of subjects with low, medium or high diet quality in each group (p=0.325).
**Conclusion:** The findings of the present study showed subjects with T2DM and users of the PHCCs of Copiapo (Chile) had a moderate diet quality, mainly. The proportion of patients with low, moderate, and high diet quality was similar among those ≤ 50 years, those 50-60 years, and those ≥ 60 years. Further investigations are needed to evaluate in depth the diet in this population.
**Conflict of interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
**Key words:** Type 2 diabetes mellitus, diet quality, primary health care.
**References**:
1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels, Belgium: 2021. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org
2. Ley SH, Hamdy O, Mohan V et al. (2014) _Lancet_ 383, 1999–2007.
3. Echeverría G, Urquiaga I, Concha et al. (2016) _Rev Med Chil_ 144, 1531–43.
**Acknowledgments**: We thank all the participants of the CODIACO study for their enthusiastic collaboration, the CODIACO personnel for their excellent assistance, and the bachelor's degree students for their important cooperation. Thanks also to the Municipal Health Directorate, the Municipal Laboratory and the personnel of the primary health care centres of Copiapo for their invaluable collaboration. We are also grateful to the Bruno Zabala Fredes School, the Hernán Márquez Huerta School, the Rosario Central Neighborhood Council, the Professional Technical School of Copiapo (ETP), as well as the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Science, and the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics for all their support.
This study was funded by the Chilean Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (FONDECYT 11180794).

OC140 - Diet quality according to age group of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from primary health care centres in Copiapó (Chile)

Unique to the new Congress (previously the Summer Conference) is that you will have greater opportunity to engage with more nutrition science than ever before. In 2024 the core programme will be delivered by the Irish Section of The Nutrition Society, supported by the Science Committee. The theme of these symposia will be ‘new data – focused approaches and challenges’. Outside of the core programme you will have the chance to hear the latest research from the Society’s partner organisations, universities, the private sector and more, on a diverse range of research.