Khushi Kesarwani

Dr. D.Y. Patil School of Pharmacy & Research, India

Abstract Title: Quantification of Calorie Intake, Dietary Quality and Cardiac Health in CVD: A Cross sectional Study

Biography: Khushi Kesarwani is a 6th-year Pharm D student at Dr. D. Y. Patil School of Pharmacy and Research, Pimpri, Pune. She has published a book chapter, holds a patent, and is currently pursuing a clinical research internship at a CRO. Actively involved in student organizations such as ISPOR, Khushi has contributed to editorial activities and public health initiatives, effectively blending scientific knowledge with strong communication skills. She has also participated in health camps and NSS events, showcasing her dedication to community service, research innovation, and healthcare advancement.

Research Interest: Lifestyle variables, notably poor dietary habits, have an important influence in the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to quantify calorie intake, assess food quality, and identify barriers to healthy eating among cardiovascular inpatients, as well as investigate relationships with demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics. A six-month cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Cardiology Department. Dietary quality was assessed using the iPACE-DQI, and caloric requirements were calculated using the Harris-Benedict equation. The daily average calorie intake (1207.80 kcal) was significantly lower than the projected requirement (1979.36 kcal), indicating a significant caloric deficit (p<0.001). The quality of the food was high, in 66.7% participants. We discovered that a greater lack of understanding is moderately associated with lower diet quality (P<0.035). Females had significantly lower calorie (p < 0.001), carbohydrate (p = 0.008), and fat intake (p = 0.047). Diet quality was higher in diabetic patients than in non-diabetics (p=0.002). Barriers to a healthy diet include a lack of support from the healthcare system (35.8%), a lack of/limited access to good quality (34.6%), and difficulties avoiding unhealthy food in social settings (33.3%). Food cost was a key barrier in underweight individuals (p = 0.020), fast-food availability in younger adults (p = 0.005), and restricted access to quality meals in dyslipidemia (p = 0.032).The study identified significant relationships between key obstacles, with the strongest between lack of knowledge/skills and lack of dietary information (p < 0.001). Improving the nutritional status of CVD patients requires a comprehensive, multi-level strategy. This study highlights difficulties to following healthy diet practices. Keywords:- Cardiovascular Disease, Diet Quality, Caloric Intake, Barriers to Healthy Eating, IPACE-DQI