Healthy Food Delivery Boosts Heart Failure Patients' Quality of Life

A groundbreaking study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 reveals that providing medically tailored meals or fresh produce boxes to heart failure patients significantly improves their quality of life. The research, led by Dr. Ambarish Pandey of UT Southwestern Medical Center, involved 150 adults recently discharged from hospitalization for acute heart failure. Participants were divided into three groups: one receiving medically tailored meals plus dietary counseling, another receiving fresh produce boxes with counseling, and a control group receiving only dietary guidance without food delivery. The 90-day intervention demonstrated that both food delivery groups reported substantially better quality of life scores on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire compared to those who only received counseling.

The study uncovered several crucial findings about cardiovascular disease management through nutritional interventions. Participants in conditional delivery groups, who had to pick up medications and attend follow-up appointments to receive food, reported even higher quality of life than those in unconditional delivery groups. Interestingly, patients receiving fresh produce boxes expressed greater satisfaction than those getting prepared meals, suggesting the value of meal preparation autonomy. However, the research found no significant differences in hospital readmissions or emergency department visits between groups, with 18% of participants experiencing such events during the study period. The trial was funded by the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food™ initiative, which aims to integrate nutritional interventions into standard medical care for chronic conditions.

This research highlights the critical role that food security and nutrition security play in managing chronic cardiovascular disease. With 53% of participants reporting food insecurity and 55% experiencing nutrition insecurity, the study underscores how access to healthy foods can be as powerful as medications for vulnerable populations. The findings align with the American Heart Association's broader 'Food Is Medicine' initiative, which advocates for incorporating nutritional support into healthcare systems to treat and prevent diet-related diseases. While the study's small size and 90-day duration represent limitations, the promising results have prompted plans for a larger phase 3 trial involving 1,200-1,500 participants across multiple hospitals to further explore the potential of food-based interventions in improving heart failure outcomes and quality of life.