Defining the nutritional status and dietary intake of older heart failure patients.
BACKGROUND
Little information exists about diet in the management of heart failure.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the nutritional and biochemical status, and the dietary intake of older heart failure patients.


METHODS
Stable outpatients and patients with recent hospitalisation for decompensated heart failure were recruited. Anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength, biochemical values and echocardiography were recorded. Patients kept 7-day food diaries and completed questionnaires concerning food provision.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients with a mean (S.D.) age of 80.8 (6.8) years were studied and classed according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) (11% Class I, 27% Class II and 62% Class III). Mean (S.D.) body mass index (BMI) was 27.1 (5.4) kg/m(2) with 7% of patients having a BMI<20 kg/m(2) and 56% with a BMI above 25 kg/m(2). 64% of participants failed to achieve the estimated average requirements for energy intake; 82% took more than 2 mg of sodium daily; and 18% had a potassium intake above 3500 mg/day. Only 29% of individuals did not need assistance with food shopping, whilst 58% required assistance with meal preparation.


CONCLUSIONS
Possible targets for dietary intervention in older heart failure patients have been identified but whether such changes would be beneficial to patients is unknown.
Price
Rosemary J G
RJ
Section of Ageing and Health, Division of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK. r.j.g.price@dundee.ac.uk
Witham
Miles D
MD
McMurdo
Marion E T
ME
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D004452:Echocardiography; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008403:Mass Screening; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000032:analysis
D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D