Factors Associated with Fruit and Vegetable Consumption of Subjects Having a History of Stroke: Using 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010, 2011)

Abstract

Intake of fruits and vegetables has protective effects against stroke attack. This study intended to examine the status of consuming fruits and vegetables and to findout which factors may influence the frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables inindividuals with a history of stroke. Methods: The data of 208 subjects from 5th (2010, 2011) Korea National Health andNutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) who reported a stroke diagnosis was usedfor analysis. To identify major factors influencing the consumption of fruits andvegetables, a classification-tree analysis was carried out. Results: Among those who reported a stroke diagnosis, the frequencies of consumptionof fruits and vegetables were influenced by their age, place of residence (urban orrural), economic status, educational level, occupation, number of family members,frequency of eating out, and having meals (breakfast or lunch) with family members. Two factors from fruits and three factors from vegetables were generated by exploratoryfactor analyses. Urban residents ate fruits and vegetables more frequently in all factorsthan rural residents. Eating frequencies of ‘seasonal fruits (orange, apple, strawberry,melon, pear and watermelon)’, ‘easily-accessible fruits (persimmon, tangerine, grape,peach, banana)’, and ‘Western-style vegetables (cabbage, mushroom, carrot, tomato,spinach)’ were influenced by the socioeconomic status. Eating frequencies of ‘Koreanstylevegetables (bean sprout, radish leaves, pumpkin/squash, sea weed)’, ‘preservedvegetables (Korean cabbage, radish, laver, cucumber)’ were influenced by havingbreakfast with family members. Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that by eating more fruits andvegetables, more preventive effects against secondary stroke attack are expected instroke patients who live in the rural areas and who do not eat breakfast with familymembers. In addition, more outreach and education programs are needed for them.