Associations between dietary inflammatory index and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure treated on an outpatient basis
Heart Failure; Diet; Inflammation; Food intake; Mortality
The dietary inflammatory index (DII) has been widely studied considering associations with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, there are still gaps in the literature regarding findings regarding individuals with heart failure (HF), as well as the impact of DII on mortality and hospitalization outcomes. This study aimed to identify associations between DII and hospitalization and mortality outcomes in individuals with HF treated on an outpatient basis, followed for 36 months. 124 individuals diagnosed with HF were trained, adults and elderly people of both sexes, treated at the Interprofessional Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital Onofre Lopes in a follow-up period of up to 36 months. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, biochemical parameters and clinical stages (hospitalization and mortality) were evaluated. To assess food and dietary intake, the 24-hour Food Recall (R24h) method was used, with an average of 3 recalls per individual, and the dietary parameters were identified for calculating the IID. The independent variables were verified according to the DII tertiles. Total DII values per individual were categorized into tertiles (T1: -3.427 to -1.1866; T2: -1.1867 to -0.15643; T3: -0.15644 to 2.872). For comparison between groups, the Kruskal-Wallis Test was used, with subsequent application of Dunn post-test to specify the differences between groups. The qualitative variables were compared using the Chi-Square (χ2) or Fisher’s Exact test. The associations between IID and clinical outcomes (hospitalization and mortality) were observed using Cox Regression. Individuals with HF were predominantly male (66.1%) and overweight (46.0%). HFrEF (Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction) and HFmrEF (Heart Failure with mid-range Ejection Fraction) were the most common types (76.6%), with non-ischemic etiology (45.1%) and functional class I and II (82.3%). We identified a frequency of 13.7% of the death as an outcome and 32.3% of hospitalization. According to the DII, 74.2% classified the diet as anti-inflammatory. In T3 of total DII, lower hemoglobin concentrations were observed compared to T1 (p=0.020). Higher non-HDL cholesterol values were identified in T3 compared to T1 (p=0.042), in addition to lower CRP-hs values in T3 compared to T1 (p=0.002). The intake of proteins, total fiber, beta-corotene, vitamin A, pyridoxine, vitamin C, niacin, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, garlic and onion were higher in T1 in relation to T2 and T3 (all p<0.05), whereas the saturated fat consumption was lower in T1 compared to T2 and higher compared to T3 (p=0.042 and p=0.021, respectively). Evaluating the DII of dietary parameters in relation to tertiles, lower values, translated as being anti-inflammatory, were evident in T1 compared to T2 and T3, of the following variables: DII beta-carotene, DII pyridoxine, DII vitamin A, DII fat salty, DII fiber, DII garlic and DII onion (all p<0.05). Regarding clinical stages (death and hospitalization). There were no associations between IID, categorized into tertiles, and mortality and hospitalization outcomes (all p>0.05). In conclusion, was evidenced a diet with high inflammatory potential, in addition to a high frequency of hospitalization and mortality, with no association with IID.