Food Supplementation in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Top Things to Know

FIM interventions are feasible and acceptable during vulnerable care transitions.

MTM and PRx interventions interventions may first influence functional well-being and symptom burden before downstream effects on utilization are observed.

FIM programs should balance nutritional goals with patient preferences, cultural relevance, and opportunities for agency to maximize impact.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the feasibility and clinical impact of short-term food supplementation in patients recently hospitalized for heart failure (HF). A total of 150 patients were randomized to receive 90 days of medically tailored meals, fresh produce boxes, or usual care with dietary counseling, with a secondary randomization to conditional versus unconditional delivery of food. Food supplementation was highly feasible, with a 94% delivery completion rate, high adherence, and strong participant retention; fresh produce boxes were rated as more acceptable and satisfying than medically tailored meals. Food supplementation did not reduce the primary outcome of HF-related readmissions or emergency department visits over 90 days compared with usual care. However, food supplementation was associated with better performance on a hierarchical composite outcome, driven largely by higher odds of achieving a clinically meaningful improvement in health-related quality of life (≥10-point increase in KCCQ-CSS), particularly in the fresh produce group. Conditioning food delivery on health care engagement did not reduce HF events, though it was associated with greater improvements in patient-reported health status.