Endocrine Abstracts

Backround and objectives: Heart failure (HF) has a rising incidence and is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. The number of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with heart failure is very high. Serum NT-proBNP and systolic ejection fraction correlate with the severity and prognosis of this condition. The nutritional evaluation of patients with HF, who usually have normal weight, overweight or obesity, has acquired a novel approach due to the incorporation of novel techniques (bioelectrical impedance, nutritional ultrasonography), and functional tests. The main objective is to evaluate the relation between nutritional parameters and clinical outcomes in patients with HF and check the possible differences in the ones affected with T2DM.

Methods: Patients with at least one hospital admission during the previous year were included. Anthropometric, biochemical, ultrasound, cardiac and functional tests were collected. Statistical analysis was performed with SSPS v.24.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were included (72.2% males). 44.4% patients of the sample presented diabetes at the moment of inclusion (100% T2DM). During the previous 12 months, patients affected with T2DM required more hospital admissions due to heart failure when compared to the ones without T2DM. Mean systolic ejection fraction measured by echocardiogram in T2DM patients was lower than the ones with no T2DM (39.5 vs 34.9%, P>0.05), and serum NT-proBNP levels were higher (4950.13 vs 9513.37, P>0.05). T2DM patients of the sample tended to have a higher lean mass and lower fat mass percentage measured by bioelectrical impedance than the no T2DM, and showed a higher phase angle (5.47 vs 4. 93º, P>0.05). T2DM also presented lower results in hand grip dynamometer in both dominant and non-dominant arms. Nutritional biochemical parameters showed that T2DM patients had a better control of LDL colesterol and trglycerides than no T2DM patients.

Conclusions: T2DM is associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure. Routine nutritional evaluation and early nutrition intervention, if required, should be implemented in order to improve the clinical outcome in these patients. Prospective, interventional studies should be performed.