Abstract

Background and Aims: High adherence to a Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) is associated with reduced incidence and mortality of acute ische- mic stroke (AIS) and may also be associated with better prognosis. Aim: To investigate the effect of the adherence to the MeDi on stroke outcomes at 90 days in our prospective stroke registry of patients with AIS. Methods: Consecutive patients with AIS admitted from January 2017 to September 2018 who consented to the RECCA registry were included. We excluded those with incomplete data and transient ischemic attacks. Adherence to MeDi was measured by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and categorized as low ( 6) or high (!7). Patients were followed at 90 days with the telephone modified Rankin score (mRS). Adherence group’s characteristics were compared with univariate analysis. An ordinal logistic regression adjusting for con- founding variables was performed to investigate disability and adherence to MeDi. Results: 231 patients were included; mean age 66.9 (18.0), 94 women (40.7%). 134 (58%) had low adherence to MeDi. Patients with high MEDAS had better 90 days functional outcomes, lower previous disability, lower admission NIHSS, lower frequency of mood disorder, sedentary lifestyle and small vessel disease but higher frequency of cryptogenic strokes. After ordinal logistic regression higher MEDAS score was signif- icantly associated with lower mRS at 90 days (odds ratio for disability 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.87) independently of age, previous mRS and admission NIHSS. Conclusions: High adherence to MeDi in our cohort was associated to better functional prognosis at 90 days after AIS.