Differential effect of malnutrition between patients hospitalized with new-onset heart failure and worsening of chronic heart failure

Aims: We aimed to investigate the differences in the prevalence, severity, and prognostic impact of malnutrition between patients with new-onset heart failure (HF) and worsening of chronic HF.

Methods and results: In older (≥60 years) hospitalized patients with acute HF, malnutrition was assessed according to the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). A score <92 was defined as malnutrition. The primary endpoint was a composite endpoint, including cardiac death or rehospitalization for HF. Among 210 patients, 37% (52/142) of patients with new-onset HF and 31% (21/68) of patients with worsening of chronic HF had malnutrition (P = 0.41). The GNRI classification was comparable between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant difference in the incidence of the composite endpoint in patients with new-onset HF (GNRI < 92 vs. GNRI ≥ 92: 50% vs. 32%, P = 0.007), but not in patients with worsening of chronic HF (GNRI < 92 vs. GNRI ≥ 92: 67% vs. 68%, P = 0.91). The adjusted Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated that a GNRI of <92 was an independent prognostic factor for the composite endpoint in patients with new-onset HF only.

Conclusions: Among older hospitalized patients with acute HF, the prevalence and severity of malnutrition were comparable between the two categories of patients. Malnutrition was an independent prognostic factor in patients with new-onset HF, while clinical prognosis was poor in patients with worsening of HF, irrespective of malnutrition. The prognostic impact of malnutrition differs between new-onset HF and worsening of chronic HF.