A new study led by Brunel University of London investigated the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and hospitalisation rates in older people as well as their use of primary care services.
Led by Dr Asieh Hosseini Tabaghdehi, an economist from Brunel Business School, the new study, published in Discover Social Science and Health, involved more than 45,000 over-50s living in 26 European Union countries, with an average age of 71.
In collaboration with the University of Insubria, Heriot-Watt University and University of Verona, individual data was collected from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, indicating the participants’ consumption of fruits and vegetables, the number of times they had been hospitalised in the last 12 months, the number of nights they spent in hospital and their use of primary care services.
Participants were asked to indicate how often they consume fruits or vegetables, selecting from daily, 3 to 6 times a week, twice a week, once a week or less than once a week. “Around 73% of our sample reported consuming fruits or vegetables daily, while only 1% stated they consume these foods less than once a week,” explained Dr Tabaghdehi.
“Nearly 16% of our sample were hospitalised in the last 12 months, and among them, 64% had been hospitalised once. Just under 20% had been hospitalised twice and around 16% had spent one night in hospital. As the number of nights spent in hospital increased, the percentage of people decreased.”
The study showed that people who regularly consumed fruits and vegetables reduced their hospitalisation risk, recording fewer hospitalisations and shorter hospital stays. “Among those who were hospitalised at least once, individuals who consumed fruits or vegetables at least once a day also experienced shorter hospital stays,” explained Dr Tabaghdehi. In light of these findings, the Brunel academic highlights dietary behaviour as a potential factor in influencing healthcare utilisation and reducing expenditures for ageing populations.
The study also found a significant positive association between regular fruit and vegetable consumption and planned use of primary care services. Individuals who consumed fruits and vegetables daily were more likely to engage with general practitioners and specialists and had a significantly higher average number of consultations per year. “Almost 91% of the sample indicated that they consulted or spoke with a GP at least once in the last 12 months, while approximately 68% had visited a specialist,” explained Dr Tabaghdehi. “Frequent preventive care health visits promote early detection and management of potential health issues, and this reflects a proactive approach to health and a broader health consciousness.”
The cross-cultural research highlighted notable demographic differences, with those in Eastern European nations, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, reporting the lowest percentages of daily fruit and vegetable consumption. In contrast, countries such as Italy and Spain had the highest rates, with over 80% of people reporting daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.
According to Dr Tabaghdehi and her research team, Dr Cristina Orso, Dr Cristina Tealdi and Dr Simona Tenaqlia, people who prioritise a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may also engage in other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise and adherence to medical advice, further minimising the risk of hospitalisation. “Collectively, these factors contribute not only to fewer hospitalisations but also to more proactive and preventive healthcare use, which further minimises the risk of hospital care and government expenditure,” she said.
The Brunel expert believes that the evidence from the study carries important policy implications for promoting healthy ageing and reducing healthcare costs among older adults. “Our findings reinforce the potential protective effects that a healthy diet offers, and promoting fruit and vegetable-rich diets could significantly ease the burden on healthcare systems by reducing hospitalisation rates and lowering the costs of managing chronic diseases.”
Dr Tabaghdehi strongly believes that public health initiatives should prioritise nutritional education to raise awareness about the benefits of increased fruit and vegetable consumption to encourage proactive health management. She highlights how fiscal measures such as subsidies or voucher systems could also be introduced to make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible.
“Previous research in America has estimated that an incentive programme offering 30% off the cost of fruit and vegetables over a lifetime would increase consumption by 0.4 servings a day while preventing approximately 1.93 million cardiovascular diseases, and saving $39.7 billion in healthcare costs,” she added. “In light of the ageing population, and the expected increase in healthcare demand, these interventions are particularly urgent.”
‘The impact of fruit and vegetable intake on healthcare costs and preventive care in older adults: evidence from SHARE data’, by Asieh H Tabaghdehi, Cristina Elisa Orso, Cristina Tealdi and Simona Tenaglia, is published in Discover Social Science and Health.
Reported by:
Nadine Palmer,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 267090
nadine.palmer@brunel.ac.uk