70 [high fat diet]) was negligible (kappa statistic = 0.036). The MF was accurate at the extremes of fat intake, but could not reliably identify the 3 AHA dietary classifications. Alternative MF cutpoints of <30 (Step 2), 30–50 (Step 1), and >50 (high fat diet) were highly sensitive (96%), but had low specificity (46%) for a high fat diet. ROC curve analysis identified that a MF score cutoff of 38 provided optimal sensitivity 75% and specificity 72%, and had modest agreement (kappa = 0.39, P < 0.001) with the FFQ for the identification of subjects with a high fat diet. Conclusions The MEDFICTS questionnaire is most suitable as a tool to identify high fat diets, rather than discriminate AHA Step 1 and Step 2 diets. Currently recommended MEDFICTS cutpoints are too high, leading to overestimation of dietary quality. A cutpoint of 38 appears to be providing optimal identification of patients who do not meet AHA dietary guidelines for fat intake."/>
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Table 1 Demographic Characteristics and Select Cardiac Risk Factors of the PACC Participants (N = 164)

From: Validation of the MEDFICTS dietary questionnaire: A clinical tool to assess adherence to American Heart Association dietary fat intake guidelines

Variable Value*
Demographic Characteristics:  
   Male gender (%) 79.9
   Age (yr) 42 ± 2
   Caucasian (%) 65.9
   College educated (%) 78.4
Cardiac Risk Factors:  
   Total cholesterol (mg/dl) 203 ± 34
   LDL (mg/dl) 130 ± 33
   HDL (mg/dl) 52 ± 14
   Triglycerides (mg/dl) 117 ± 64
   BMI 27 ± 4
   Waist girth (cm) 92 ± 10
  1. *Plus-minus values are means and standard deviations.
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Nutrition Journal

ISSN: 1475-2891

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