Impact of Plant-Based Diets and Associations with Health, Lifestyle, and Healthcare Utilization: A Population-Based Survey Study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of plant-based patterns in the Spanish population and assess their potential impact on individuals with similar sociodemographic backgrounds.

Design: We estimated vegetarian and vegan individuals' national and regional prevalence and analyzed their sociodemographic characteristics and weekly dietary intake patterns. Individuals with a plant-based dietary pattern were matched to a control group (1:4) with similar sociodemographic characteristics. Associations with the prevalence risk of common chronic diseases, self-reported health status, lifestyle, and healthcare use were analyzed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.

Setting: A population-based survey of individuals residing in Spain.

Participants: Data from 22,072 participants were examined.

Results: The prevalence of plant-based diets was 5.62‰ (95% CI: 4.33-7.28), and adherents were female (68.6%), single (62.3%), and university-educated 41.8%) (P< 0.001). They reported higher rates of "never" consuming snacks (50% vs 35%), fast food (58% vs 36%), and sweets (33% vs 14%). Lifestyle factors did not differ between the plant-based and omnivorous groups; however, adherence to plant-based diets was associated with a prevalence risk of depressive symptoms (OR 2.58, 95% CI: 1.00-6.65), stroke (OR 7.08, 95% CI: 1.27-39.46), and increased consultations for mental health and complementary medicine (OR 3.21, 95% CI: 1.38-7.43).

Conclusions: Plant-based diets are uncommon and are associated with specific sociodemographic profiles, particularly sex. When comparing individuals with similar sociodemographic characteristics, individuals with plant-based diets and omnivores had similar lifestyles. Addressing patient concerns regarding diet and personal well-being might prioritize healthy behaviors over specific dietary patterns.