Relationship of Biochemical Parameters and Echocardiogram Findings with Appetite in Patients having Reduced Ejection Fraction Heart Failure

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship of biochemical parameters and echocardiogram findings with
appetite and nutritional status in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Combined Military
Hospital (CMH), Peshawar, Pakistan, from February 2022 to August 2022.
Methods: The study was conducted on adult patients with heart failure for at least three months. Indoor
patients, those with hospitalization within the last four weeks, and unwilling patients were excluded. The
Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire and Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire were
administered in direct face-to-face interviews. A transthoracic echocardiogram was done to document the left
ventricular ejection fraction. Different hematological and biochemical parameters were also analyzed.
Results: There were 76 patients aged 55.92± 15.22 years. Mean mini nutritional assessment and Council on
Nutrition appetite questionnaire scores were 17.89± 5.23 and 20.74± 8.19, respectively. Based on mini
nutritional assessment scores, 36 were malnourished, 27 were at risk of malnutrition, and 13 had normal
nutritional status. Using Council on Nutrition appetite questionnaire scores, 57 were at risk of malnutrition,
while 19 had no risk. Left ventricular ejection fraction and hemoglobin were lower in malnourished patients.
However, there were no differences in other biochemical parameters amongst patients with good or poor
nutritional status.
Conclusion: Patients with heart failure had poor appetite and nutritional status proportionate to the degree of
left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

How to cite this: Saeed B, Arshad AR, Hussain M. Relationship of Biochemical Parameters and Echocardiogram Findings with Appetite and Nutritional Status in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction. Life and Science. 2024; 5(2): 144-150. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.359