Moderated Poster Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2025

Evaluating changes in diet components in the PERKS-international trial. (123015)

Shabnam Jalili-Moghaddam 1 , Rita Krishnamurthi 1 , Valery Feigin 1 , Katherine Chappell 2 , Addisu Dabi Wake 2 3 , Amanda Thrift 4 , Timothy J. Kleinig 5 6 , Dominique Cadilhac 7 , Derrick A. Bennett 8 , Mark Nelson 2 , Tara Purvis 7 , Gemma Kitsos 2 , Seana Gall 2
  1. The National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  2. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  3. Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia
  4. Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  5. Department of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  6. Department of Neurology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  7. Translational Public Health and Evaluation Division, Stroke and Ageing Research, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  8. Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

Purpose: Most strokes can be prevented by managing modifiable risk factors, including diet. Our aim was to evaluate change in diet components in the PERKS-International randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: This RCT including stroke-free adults aged 35-75years, with ≥2 modifiable risk factors, and smartphone access was conducted across Australia and New Zealand. We assessed whether the use of the Stroke Riskometer™ mobile App improved management of stroke risk factors, including diet, at 6-months. The intervention group (IG) received the App; the usual care group (UCG) received generic online information. Dietary information was collected at baseline and 6-months via FFQ. Five dietary components were assessed: non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES), fats, fruits, vegetables and fish. For each component, daily intake was dichotomised as healthy or not according to UK guidelines. Between-group differences in the change in the odds of healthy intake over 6-months were estimated using mixed-effects logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status and country.

Results: Among 862 participants (mean±SD age:58±11 years; 63% female; 74% Caucasian; 62% with tertiary education; 15% most disadvantaged area-level socioeconomic status; 51% New Zealand), there were no significant differences between groups in the change in the odds of healthy consumption of fruit (AOR=0.63, 95% CI:0.27–1.46), vegetables (0.88, 0.51–1.52), fish (1.68, 95% 0.68–4.18), fats (1.12, 0.66–1.90), or NMES (0.84, 0.46–1.55).

Conclusions: We found no significant difference in improvement in dietary components over 6-months between the groups. Future research should explore complementary strategies alongside the App to encourage individuals to improve their diet.