Abstract

DOMINGUES, Bruna; RODRIGUES, Teresa; FONSECA, Marlene  and  XARA, Sónia. Influence of Nutritional Status in Heart Failure. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2016, n.5, pp.18-22. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2016.0504.

Heart failure is a cardiovascular disease that may be caused by any condition that affects the heart and, consequently, impairs diastolic or systolic function. Despite the improvements that have been observed in terms of prognosis, the numbers are still alarming and the prevalence remains high, especially in the elderly. Among the many known risk factors, nutritional status has proved to be closely related to the development and prognosis of the pathology, verifying that a large number of patients with advanced heart failure also presents severe malnutrition (cardiac cachexia) associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover, obesity seems to have a protective effect in this condition, as there are several studies showing the relationship between higher Body Mass Index values and lower risk of mortality when compared to individuals with lower Body Mass Index . However, and despite being the most common method used to characterize the nutritional status, Body Mass Index is not a good indicator of body composition as regards the distribution of body fat, which is a fundamental factor to be studied in these patients. Thus, in order to understand the role of fat in heart failure it is important to determine the best method to assess the nutritional status of these patients and how it may influence the prognosis.

Keywords : Body composition; Nutritional status; Heart failure.

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