Comparing two durations of medically tailored meals posthospitalization: A randomized clinical trial

Top Things to Know

The study found no significant difference between 2-week and 4-week of MTM groups in terms of anxiety, depression, functional status, nutritional risk, emergency department visits, or rehospitalization rates at 60 days post-discharge.

Participants in the 2-week group had higher adherence (90.5% received all scheduled meals) compared to the 4-week group (79.4%), where more participants canceled deliveries. This suggests that flexibility in meal duration may be important for patient engagement.

Future research should explore optimal meal duration, patient preferences, and whether certain subgroups may benefit from longer meal support.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This randomized controlled trial compared 2 vs. 4 weeks of medically tailored meals (MTM) for 650 post hospitalized patients with chronic conditions. Participants received one MTM per day either for 2 weeks or 4 weeks, but no significant differences were found in anxiety, depression, functional status, nutritional risk, ED visits, or rehospitalization rates at 60 days. Adherence was higher in the 2-week group (90.5%) vs. 4-week group (79.4%), suggesting shorter MTM durations may be sufficient. Further research is needed to refine optimal meal duration for posthospitalization food interventions.