Ultra-processed foods consumption is associated with cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilians with established cardiovascular events.

The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. However, there is scarce literature on the association between UPF consumption, cardiovascular events, and cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects undergoing secondary care for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption, CVD, and cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with established CVD.

Pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a high number of cardiovascular events and ultra-processed foods consumption in patients in secondary care.

Objective: To evaluate the association of dietary inflammatory index (DII®) with the occurrence of cardiovascular events, cardiometabolic risk factors and with the consumption of processed, ultra-processed, unprocessed or minimally processed foods and culinary ingredients.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study that analysed the baseline data from 2359 cardiac patients. Data on socio-demographic, anthropometric, clinical and food consumption were collected.