Assessing Barriers to Healthy Eating in Hospitalized Older Adults With Heart Failure: Psychometric Properties of Two Questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: Dietary sodium excess and malnutrition have been associated with poor outcomes in heart failure (HF). Few previous studies have examined the barriers to following a low-sodium, nutritionally robust diet in hospitalized patients with HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: As part of a dietary intervention pilot study, 76 inpatients with HF (age 71 ±â€¯8 years, 30% female, 30% black, 36% Hispanic/Latino) completed 2 questionnaires, the Dietary Sodium Restriction Questionnaire (DSRQ) and the Brief Dietary Psychosocial Scale (BDPS), to assess challenges in following a low-sodium, nutritionally complete diet. We assessed the factor structure of the DSRQ and BDPS with confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis (CFA and EFA). CFA did not support the established 3-factor solution for the DSRQ; instead, EFA indicated that a 2-factor solution (subjective norms/attitudes and perceived behavioral control) provided the best fit for the data. EFA supported 4 separate factors for the BDPS, as in its original derivation. Cronbach's alphas supported internal consistency reliability for both scales (DSRQ: 0.85-0.94; BDPS: 0.72-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: In a mixed-ethnicity group of hospitalized older patients with HF, the DSRQ and BDPS have reasonable psychometric properties. These questionnaires may help identify barriers to healthy dietary practices and facilitate nutritional interventions in this high-risk population.

Home-Delivered Meals Postdischarge From Heart Failure Hospitalization.

Background In patients with heart failure (HF), malnutrition and dietary sodium excess are common and may worsen outcomes. No prior studies have provided low-sodium, nutritionally complete meals following HF hospitalization. Methods and Results The GOURMET-HF study (Geriatric Out-of-Hospital Randomized Meal Trial in Heart Failure) randomized patients discharged from HF hospitalization to 4 weeks of home-delivered sodium-restricted Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension meals (DASH/SRD; 1500 mg sodium/d) versus usual care. The primary outcome was the between-group change in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary score from discharge to 4 weeks postdischarge. Additional outcomes included changes in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score and cardiac biomarkers. All patients were followed 12 weeks for death/all-cause readmission and potential diet-related adverse events (symptomatic hypotension, hyperkalemia, acute kidney injury). Sixty-six patients were randomized 1:1 at discharge to DASH/SRD versus usual care (age, 71±8 years; 30% female; ejection fraction, 39±18%). The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary score increased similarly between groups (DASH/SRD 46±23-59±20 versus usual care 43±19-53±24; P=0.38), but the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score increase tended to be greater in DASH/SRD participants (47±22-65±19 versus 45±20-55±26; P=0.053). Potentially diet-related adverse events were uncommon; 30-day HF readmissions (11% versus 27%; P=0.06) and days rehospitalized within that timeframe (17 versus 55; P=0.055) trended lower in DASH/SRD participants. Conclusions Home-delivered DASH/SRD after HF hospitalization appeared safe in selected patients and had directionally favorable effects on HF clinical status and 30-day readmissions. Larger studies are warranted to clarify the effects of postdischarge nutritional support in patients with HF. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02148679.