About one in five patients with heart failure (HF) exhibited malnutrition at both baseline and follow-up assessments, and many patients did not meet caloric and protein intake requirements. These findings were reported in an observational study published in Endocrinologia, Diabetes y Nutricion that evaluated the prevalence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity in patients with HF and reassessed nutritional status, functional performance, and quality of life over time.

Patients with HF referred by a cardiology department were evaluated in a nutrition clinic between 2021 and 2022 and reassessed in 2024. Malnutrition was defined using Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), and sarcopenic obesity using European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism/European Association for the Study of Obesity (ESPEN/EASO) criteria.

A total of 41 patients were initially evaluated, and 23 underwent reassessment. The cohort included 82.6% men with a mean age of 64 years (standard deviation 10.6). At baseline, malnutrition prevalence was 21.7%, sarcopenia 8.7%, and sarcopenic obesity 4.3%. Caloric and protein intake requirements were unmet in 63.2% and 47.4% of patients. Low calf circumference occurred at 26.1%. Functional impairment was common, with reduced lower limb strength in all patients, reduced gait speed in 90.9%, and impaired stability in 50%. Quality of life assessed using the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) indicated good quality of life in all patients.

At reassessment, malnutrition prevalence remained 21.7%, while sarcopenia increased to 17.4% and sarcopenic obesity to 8.7%. Caloric and protein intake requirements were unmet in 60.9% and 78.3% of patients. Low calf circumference increased to 52.2%, reduced gait speed occurred in 91.3%, and impaired stability in 43.5%. Good quality of life according to MLHFQ was reported in 91.3% of patients.

Overall, malnutrition persisted in a substantial proportion of patients with HF during initial assessment and follow-up. Many patients did not achieve nutritional requirements and showed deterioration in functional measures and quality of life over time.