Healthy dietary patterns are generally linked to long-term cardiovascular disease prevention. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2025 study evaluated the relationship between post-myocardial infarction dietary changes and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Data from 19,910 Swedish patients with myocardial infarction between 2016 and 2021 were analyzed. Self-reported consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, and sweets was collected at two months and one year post-infarction. A dietary score ranging from 0–12 points classified patterns as healthy (≥9 points) or unhealthy. Patients were grouped as consistently healthy, improved, worsened, or consistently unhealthy.

Over a median follow-up of 2.21 years, 1,288 MACE occurred. Event rates per 1,000 person-years were lowest in the consistently healthy group (24.2) and highest in the consistently unhealthy group (31.0). However, after adjusting for lifestyle factors and comorbidities, differences between dietary groups were no longer significant.

These findings suggested that post-myocardial infarction dietary alterations alone were not strong independent predictors of future cardiovascular events, highlighting the importance of considering overall lifestyle and comorbidities.