Work

Diet-attributable vascular/metabolic disease burden comparisons and public health implications in Western Europe and North America

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke (IS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and lower-extremity vascular disease are leading causes of disability in Western Europe and North America, but their diet-attributable burden remains unclear. Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 data, we assessed the association between the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and the vascular/metabolic disease burden and compared the cross-regional burden through multi-dimensional time-trend, risk contribution, and projection analyses. Mendelian randomization (MR) tested causal diet effects on disease subtypes. Frontier analysis showed diet-related IHD and IS burden declined with SDI, while T2DM increased. By 2023, Western Europe had a lower burden than North America. Processed meat and whole grain dominated T2DM and IHD burden, respectively. Joinpoint analysis revealed declining trends. Projections to 2035 indicated North America remains higher. MR identified several potential causal links. This study provides a basis for vascular/metabolic disease prevention policies and dietary interventions in Western Europe and North America.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117732