Abstract P427: Nutritional Education Strategies’ Impact on Diet in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation

Abstract

Background: Nutrition guidelines to reduce cardiovascular disease risk are well-established, and yet few patients regularly eat a healthy diet. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a prime opportunity to provide education and improve nutrition. However, the most effective strategies in nutrition education are not yet established, and outcome data for various nutrition strategies is limited. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate self-reported nutrition metrics for individuals in CR who completed a dietician consultation compared to the usual nutrition class. Methods: Beginning in 2021, CR patients were offered the choice of a 1:1 dietician consultation (“consultation”) or the usual group nutrition class. This study included patients who completed intake and discharge surveys evaluating self-reported healthy food consumption [Rate Your Plate (RYP), 27-81)], confidence in preparing heart healthy meals (0-10), and percentage of heart healthy meals (0-100%). Data were evaluated based on nutrition education strategy and stratified by median baseline score. Results: Of the 166 participants with complete data through August 2, 2022, 87 received a consultation (mean age 65years, 63 males); and 79 chose usual care (mean 63years, 64 males).Final RYP, confidence, and percent healthy meals scores improved in both groups compared to baseline. In general, patients with a lower baseline score had a larger improvement in all nutrition metics regardless of nutrition education group (Table). The average change in RYP score was higher in the consultation arm (+11.7% (59.4 from 53.1); 95% CI [8.3%, 15.1%]), versus usual care (+4.4%, (57.3 from 54.9); 95% CI [2.2%, 6.6%]) . There was no significant difference in change in the other scores between the consultation and usual care group. Conclusion: Individual dietician consultation may be beneficial in providing education and improving nutrition habits for CR patients, especially for those with a low baseline level of knowledge of heart healthy nutrition.