Abstract
BACKGROUND: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are prevalent public health issues worldwide. Their prevention is challenging, and they pose a significant economic burden due to their susceptibility to secondary infections and lack of effective treatments. This study investigates the relationship between URTIs and the holistic diets and lifestyles of residents in Northeast China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 4058 participants aged 12 to 70 who participated in the Internet-based dietary questionnaire for Chinese (IDQC), collected between 2012 and 2019. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 20.0 software, employing chi-square tests for categorical data and Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous data. RESULTS: The frequency of URTIs was positively correlated with the intake of daily energy, magnesium, copper, legumes, nuts, fast food, and beverages (P < 0.05, 95%CI = 0.001-0.004, 95%CI = 0.001-0.004, 95%CI = 0.059-0.167, 95%CI = 0.001-0.002, 95%CI = 0.001-0.004, 95%CI = 0.000-0.002, and 95%CI = 0.000-0.002). Negative correlations were observed with the intake of daily fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, and zinc (P < 0.05, 95%CI=-0.033-0.007, 95%CI=-0.015-0.004, 95%CI = 0.060-0.010, 95%CI=-0.941-0.094, and 95%CI=-0.117-0.002). Ordinal regression models indicated that limiting work hours to no more than 10 per day significantly reduced URTI incidence (P < 0.05, 95%CI=-0.610-0.166), but engaging in less than 0.5 h of daily exercise, consuming less than 6 cups of water had a higher frequency of URTIs(P < 0.05, 95%CI = 0.039-0.463,95%CI = 0.473-0.825). CONCLUSION: This study identifies associations between URTIs and holistic diets and lifestyles. These preliminary findings may offer reference value for exploring targeted nutrition and lifestyle strategies to prevent URTIs in this region and other cold regions.