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Chinese healthy eating index as a measure of diet quality and its association with depression and anxiety symptoms among people living with HIV: a cross-sectional study in China
This research explores the critical link between diet quality and mental health among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 700 participants from HIV-specific hospitals in Jinhua city, utilizing a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intake and the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) for diet quality evaluation. Mental health status was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
The average CHEI score among participants was 60.8 ± 12.0. Adjusted analyses revealed that individuals in the highest quartile of CHEI scores had significantly reduced odds of experiencing depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20–0.60) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34–0.96) compared to those in the lowest quartile. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a declining trend in the risk of depression and anxiety as CHEI scores increased beyond 60. Notably, higher scores in specific CHEI components, such as dark vegetables, fruits, and dairy, correlated with lower odds of mental health symptoms.
Overall, the findings suggest that higher diet quality, as determined by the CHEI, is inversely associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among PLHIV, highlighting the importance of nutritional interventions in mental health strategies for this population. [NPID: Depressive symptoms, vegetables, HIV, anxiety, diet quality]
Year: 2026
