Mortality attributable to inadequate intake of fruits among population aged 25 and above in China, 2013

Abstract

Objective: To assess the mortality attributable to low fruit intake among people over 25 years old in China, 2013, and its effect on life expectancy. Methods: Based on data collected from China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance in 2013, the average fruit intake in different genders and areas were calculated. Potential impact fraction (PIF) was used to examine the impact on deaths, mortality and life expectancy. Results: The average daily fruit intake was (113.3±168.9) g among people over 25 years old, with (103.6±160.1) g for men and (122.7±176.6) g for women, in China in 2013. Fruit intake for urban residents was significantly higher than that in rural residents and higher in eastern regions than that in central or western regions. Scores that attributable to low fruit intake accounted for 15.21% of the total deaths and the population attributable fraction of inadequate intake of fruits to associated diseases was 35.00%. PIF for all the deaths in rural residents (16.50%) appeared higher than that of the urban residents (13.88%), and higher in the residents living in the eastern region (15.48%) than that in the central (16.27%) or western (13.75%) regions. Number of deaths that attributable to low fruit intake was 1.348 4 million. Deaths caused by related diseases appeared as: ischemic heart disease (472.5 thousands), hemorrhagic stroke (338.8 thousands), ischemic stroke (259.0 thousands), lung cancer (208.4 thousands), esophageal cancer (60.7 thousands), laryngeal cancer (5.4 thousands) and oral cancer (3.6 thousands). Numbers of all deaths and related diseases for urban residents were lower than that of the rural residents, with central regions (452.7 thousands) higher than that in the eastern (531.1 thousands) or western (364.6 thousands) regions. The average life expectancy loss caused by low fruit intake was 1.73 years, 1.80 years for men and 1.58 years for women, in this country. Loss of life expectancy in the rural residents was higher than that of the urban residents, and higher in central regions than that in the eastern or western regions. Conclusions: The intake of fruit was far lower than the recommended standard set for the Chinese people. Population attributable fraction was related to the associated diseases caused by inadequate intake of fruits which also made serious impact on life expectancy.