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Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause and cause specific mortality: population based cohort study

Zhe Fang, S. Rossato, D. Hang, N. Khandpur, Kai Wang, Chun-Han Lo, W. C. Willett, E. Giovannucci et al.

British medical journal, 2024

188 participants · 104 citations

Abstract

Abstract Objective To examine the association of ultra-processed food consumption with all cause mortality and cause specific mortality. Design Population based cohort study. Setting Female registered nurses from 11 US states in the Nurses’ Health Study (1984-2018) and male health professionals from all 50 US states in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2018). Participants 74 563 women and 39 501 men with no history of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes at baseline. Main outcome measures Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association of ultra-processed food intake measured by semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire every four years with all cause mortality and cause specific mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular, and other causes (including respiratory and neurodegenerative causes). Results 30 188 deaths of women and 18 005 deaths of men were documented during a median of 34 and 31 years of follow-up, respectively. Compared with those in the lowest quarter of ultra-processed food consumption, participants in the highest quarter had a 4% higher all cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.07) and 9% higher mortality from causes other than cancer or cardiovascular diseases (1.09, 1.05 to 1.13). The all cause mortality rate among participants in the lowest and highest quarter was 1472 and 1536 per 100 000 person years, respectively. No…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 188 participants or records.

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