Background: Recent studies suggest red and processed meat consumption is strongly
linked to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Australian women.
Objective: Examine the associations of red and processed meat consumption with
cardiovascular disease using the Framingham score.
Methods: Included in the analysis were two separate female cohorts, those taken
from an Internet based health survey (n= 13,509 between the ages of 30-74) and those
from a longitudinal epidemiological study (n=176 between the ages of 65-74).
Information was available on red and processed meat consumption, exercise and all
parameters required for calculation of the Framingham score. Binomial regression
was used to examine the association within the Internet based cohort, while KruskalWallis
H Tests and a Mann-Whitney U Test were employed for analysis of the data in
the epidemiological study.
Results: Consumption of red and processed meat 3-4 and >5 times per week was
associated with Framingham scores 1.064 (p= 0.002) and 1.108 (p=