Abstract
Nutrition research has the potential to identify better ways of preventing and managing heart failure, thus reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. However, it has proved especially challenging to design well-powered clinical efficacy and effectiveness studies in this field. To better understand the federal research support provided to date on this topic and to identify issues that applicants must address, we conducted a portfolio analysis by using the federal RePORTER database. We limited the search to funded projects for the fiscal years 2000–2016 in which the terms “nutrition or diet or dietary supplements” and “heart failure” were included in the abstract, key words, or title. We found that ?70 projects were funded during this time period, the majority being supported through research project grants (R mechanisms) and a smaller number through training awards (F or K mechanisms). Most of the awards were funded by 3 NIH institutes (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Nursing Research, and National Institute on Aging) and by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. The main types of funded science were basic studies in animal models and longitudinal or cross-sectional observational cohort studies. There were relatively few intervention studies, with most evaluating behavioral change and education modalities. The trials that compared dietary treatments generally were small proof-of-concept or pilot studies. Nutrition research typically comprises ?5% of the NIH research investment (e.g., $1.6–$30 billion); heart failure has a very low profile within the NIH nutrition research portfolio (e.g., ?$9 million–$1.6 billion, or 0.5% in 2016). Nutrition issues and dietary interventions are understudied in patients with heart failure. To close critical data gaps in patient management, we need well-designed efficacy and effectiveness trials linking diet with clinical outcomes.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: 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.
