Association Between Dietary Habits and Their Scores With the 9.9-Year Incidence of Dyslipidemia in an Urban Adult Population: Findings From a Prospective Cohort Study.

Dyslipidemia elevates the risk of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD). While various dietary and lifestyle factors contribute to dyslipidemia, healthier eating habits may decrease this risk. This longitudinal study investigated the association between dietary habits score (DHS) and the 9.9-year risk of dyslipidemia among urban adults. A total of 1042 adults without dyslipidemia at baseline were enrolled, and 693 participants who completed follow-up were included in the final analysis. Dietary habits were assessed in 2005-2006, and participants were followed for an average of 9.9 years. DHS was calculated for each participant by summing the hazard ratios (HRs) associated with individual dietary habits in relation to dyslipidemia risk, thereby generating a cumulative score reflecting overall dietary habits quality. A higher DHS indicates unhealthier dietary habits. The association between DHS and the incidence of dyslipidemia was analyzed using Cox regression. During the 9.9-year follow-up, the incidence of dyslipidemia was 65.8%. After adjustment for confounders, the incidence of dyslipidemia (HR; 95% CI) was found to be associated with poor weight management (HR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.14-2.47), low salad consumption (HR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.56-3.90), and frequent fast-food intake (HR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.08-3.34). Overall, individuals in the highest DHS quartile exhibited a greater risk of dyslipidemia (HR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.50-4.43, p = 0.001) compared with the lowest quartile of DHS. The same positive association was found in males (HR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.95-6.51, p = 0.034). The findings indicate a significant positive association between poor weight management, low salad consumption, frequent fast-food intake, and higher DHS with the 9.9-year incidence of dyslipidemia. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.