Malnutrition in heart failure. The importance of assessing for congestion and sarcopenia

Aim

This work aims to describe nutrition and sarcopenia in inpatients with heart failure (HF). It also aims to assess factors associated with in-hospital and short-term prognosis related to nutrition and sarcopenia.

Methods

We collected data on consecutive HF patients admitted to a single center’s internal medicine ward. Patients were recruited in May and October 2021. Malnutrition was determined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) and sarcopenia by the screening test, SARC-F scale, and handgrip strength test.

Results

190 patients were analyzed, mean age 82.1 (±8.2), 54.2% women, median follow up 106 days. Patients were classified into three groups based on MNA-SF score: group 1 (12–14 points, no risk) included 50 patients, group 2 (8–12 points, high risk of malnutrition) included 81 patients, group 3 (0–7 points, malnourished) included 59 patients. Group 3 had significantly more inflammation (lower albumin and higher C-reactive Protein (CRP)) and congestion (measured by NT-ProBNP levels). In-hospital mortality was related to poor muscle function, CRP, and NT-ProBNP, but not to malnutrition. The poorest short-term outcomes were related to malnutrition and comorbidity. However, when the variable of muscle function was introduced, it could act as a poor prognostic factor related to CRP and NT-ProBNP, which were the main determinants of survival.

Conclusion

In malnourished patients with HF, inflammation and congestion were related to in-hospital mortality. Malnutrition along with comorbidity may play a role in decreasing short-term survival. Early identification through proactive nutritional and functional screenings should be a key element of assessing HF patients.