2022 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 2-9
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between dietary intake during hospitalization and lower limb muscle strength at discharge in patients with heart failure.
Subject and methods: Subjects were 92 patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure who underwent phase I cardiac rehabilitation. Mean dietary intake (kcal/day) during hospitalization and mean dietary intake rate (i.e., the percentage of dietary intake out of total energy provided) were calculated. Right and left knee extensor muscle strengths (kgf) were measured at discharge as lower limb muscle strength, and the mean value was normalized by body weight.
Results: Lower limb muscle strength was positively correlated with dietary intake rate and dietary intake (r=0.47 and 0.56, respectively, both p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that dietary intake was significantly correlated with lower limb muscle strength at discharge (R=0.703, adjusted R2=0.476, p<0.05).
Conclusions: Dietary intake during hospitalization was related to lower limb muscle strength at discharge in patients with heart failure. This suggests that early intervention using a multidisciplinary comprehensive approach is necessary for improvement in patients with low dietary intake.
