Validation of a self administered FFQ in adults in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Abstract Objective To assess the reproducibility and validity among adults in the Southern Cone of Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) of a self administered FFQ to be used in the CESCAS I Study, an ongoing observational prospective cohort study to detect and follow up CVD and their risk factors, as well as in other epidemiological studies. Design Relative validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient and selected food group intakes with those from three 24 h recalls (24HR) administered over 6 months. The FFQ was administered at baseline (FFQ1) and again after 3 months (FFQ2) Setting Primary care centres in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Subjects Adults (n 147) aged 21 74 years. Results Reproducibility (FFQ1 v. FFQ2) the intra class correlation coefficients for nutrients ranged from 0*52 (potassium) to 0*74 (fat) Validity (FFQ1 v. the average of three 24HR) the Pearson correlations for energy adjusted nutrients ranged from 0*39 (thiamin and cholesterol) to 0*59 (carbohydrate) Joint classification: overall, 66 of participants in the lowest 24HR quintile were in the lowest one or two FFQ1 quintiles, and 62 of those in the highest 24HR quintile were in the highest one or two FFQ1 quintiles. On average, only 4 were misclassified into extreme quintiles. Conclusions The FFQ version for the Southern Cone seems to present moderate to acceptable relative validity and reliability for its use in the CESCAS I Study to measure dietary exposure.
Public Health Nutrition