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Association between Dietary Patterns and All-Cause Mortality in the Chinese Old: Analysis of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey Cohort

Summary

This study examined how different eating patterns affect how long Chinese elderly people live. Researchers tracked 11,958 people aged 65 and older over 10 years and identified four main dietary patterns. The healthiest pattern—which included fruits, vegetables, nuts, and adequate staple foods—was associated with lower mortality risk for both men and women. The northeastern pattern with tea, garlic, and fermented vegetables also protected against early death.

Background

Diet is a key intervention for promoting health and reducing all-cause mortality in older adults. The Chinese population aged 65 and above surpassed 210 million in 2022 and is projected to reach 380 million by 2050. There is currently a research gap in understanding the association between dietary patterns of Chinese elderly individuals and overall mortality.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary patterns and all-cause mortality in Chinese older adults using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2008 to 2018. The research sought to identify dietary patterns that effectively mitigate the risk of overall mortality among the aging Chinese population.

Results

Four dietary patterns were identified: milk-egg-sugar pattern, carnivorous pattern, healthy pattern, and northeastern pattern. The healthy pattern consistently lowered mortality risk across all quartiles in both genders (males: HR=0.87, females: HR=0.95). The northeastern pattern also showed inverse association with mortality in both genders (males: HR=0.94, females: HR=0.96). The carnivorous pattern only significantly reduced mortality risk in males in the highest quartile (HR=0.84).

Conclusion

Dietary patterns play a vital role in all-cause mortality of Chinese older adults, with effects varying between genders and age groups. The healthy pattern and northeastern pattern were most protective. Results provide insights for identifying dietary strategies to reduce mortality risk in the aging Chinese population.
  • Published in:Nutrients,
  • Study Type:Prospective Cohort Study,
  • Source: PMID: 38892538
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