The Impact of a Dietary Care Combined with Nutritional Management Model in Elderly Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a life-threatening syndrome. Recently, a dietary care combined with nutritional management (DCNM) has become an important component in the management of various diseases.

Aim: To investigate the impact of a DCNM model on the recovery and nutritional status of elderly patients with CHF.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 85 elderly patients with CHF. In the DCNM group, nursing staff developed personalized dietary care combined with nutritional management interventions. All patients underwent a six-month nursing intervention, during which the patients' nutritional indicators, including serum albumin, hemoglobin, transferrin, and prealbumin levels, were recorded. Additionally, clinical indicators relevant to the patients' condition were assessed after the 6-month intervention period.

Results: The levels of albumin, hemoglobin, transferrin, and prealbumin in the DCNM group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group. Additionally, patients in the DCNM group had significantly lower levels of serum NT-proBNP, significantly longer 6-minute walk test (6WMT) distances, higher LVEF and SF-36 scores, and higher proportion of improved heart function by 1 grade. Moreover, we found that DCNM care may improve the prognosis of patients. Finally, the results of logistic regression analysis showed that albumin, prealbumin, and DCNM care were factors associated with significant treatment efficacy in CHF patients.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our study demonstrates the beneficial effects of a dietary care combined with nutritional management model in improving the nutritional status, cardiac function, and therapeutic outcomes of elderly patients with chronic heart failure.