Abstract
Outpatient heart failure centers using a multidisciplinary approach to management of heart failure are recognized as essential to decreasing costs of treating heart failure. These centers do not typically employ registered dietitians. With hospital foundation funding, our objective was to develop the role of the dietitian and to evaluate the impact of nutrition intervention in a multidisciplinary heart failure program. Based on a needs assessment, the dietitian developed and tested a medical nutrition therapy protocol, education materials, and special education projects. Unannounced 24-hour recalls at 3 points in time were used to determine changes in sodium and fluid intakes. An outcome tracking system was implemented. Intake data were analyzed for patients who were in the program 9 or more months (n=79). Patients’ sodium and fluid intakes at 2 to 3 months and 6 to 9 months were compared with their baseline intakes using paired t test. The sodium decrease of 0.5g at 2 to 3 months and 6 to 9 months and the fluid decrease of 15oz at 2 to 3 months and 12 oz at 6 to 9 months were all highly significant (P<.001). Patients active in year 3 (n=82) completed the Minnesota Quality of Life Questionnaire. Compared with baseline, quality of life scores improved by 6.7 points (P<.003) at 3 months and by 5.9 points (P<.04) at 6 months. Of 83 patients hospitalized over 3 years, 6 hospitalizations were the result of an excessive sodium intake. At the completion of the project, the center provided funding for the dietitian to become a permanent team member. These positive findings indicate dietitians should seek involvement in heart failure centers. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1790-1794.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.