Dietary intake and stress in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective: to assess whether dietary intake of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) meets national and international recommendations and whether there is a relationship with the levels of stress. Method: a cross-sectional study with 150 patients with ACS, who were interviewed with the Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. Results: daily intake above the recommendations: cholesterol (92%), fiber (42.7%) and protein (68%); intake below the recommendations: potassium (88%) and carbohydrates (68.7%); intake according to the recommendations: sodium (53.3%) and lipids (53.3%). Most patients with inadequate dietary intake (54%) were stressed or highly stressed. There was a significant association between a lower stress level and a higher fi ber intake. Conclusion: in patients with ACS, dietary intake did not meet the guideline recommendations, and a lower fi ber intake occurs concomitantly with higher stress levels. Educational efforts can support patients in dietary intake adequacy and stress control.