Nutritional Support for Heart Failure
(GOURMET-VA Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+1 other location

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing if extra help with nutrition, including more dietary education and counseling, can improve recovery for patients who have just left the hospital. The goal is to see if this added support is more effective than the usual care alone.

Research Team

Scott L. Hummel, MD

Principal Investigator

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Veterans aged 60+ who've been hospitalized with new or worsening heart failure, can eat and drink normally, and are enrolled in a VHA facility. It's not for those with severe dietary restrictions, kidney issues requiring dialysis, extreme obesity, cognitive impairments, or any conditions that limit their ability to control their diet or participate fully.

Inclusion Criteria

I was hospitalized for at least 24 hours due to new or worsening heart failure.

Able and willing to provide informed consent and perform study activities

Dentition, swallowing function, etc. sufficient to safely consume food and liquid of standard composition and texture (i.e., no pureed food, no thickened liquids needed)

See 2 more

Exclusion Criteria

You have very limited access to food, according to a specific screening test.

You have food allergies or intolerances that cannot be managed with the study diet.

I am on dialysis or my kidney function is very low.

See 9 more

Treatment Details

Interventions

Home-delivered meals and short-term dietary counseling (Behavioural Intervention)
Study-defined standard of care (Other)

Trial OverviewThe GOURMET-VA study is testing if adding home-delivered meals and short-term dietary counseling to the usual care (which includes standardized education and one dietary session post-discharge) improves outcomes for older adults with heart failure compared to usual care alone.

Participant Groups

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Home-delivered meals and short-term dietary counselingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Home-delivered, low-sodium, nutritionally robust meals for 6 weeks plus two additional remotely delivered dietary counseling sessions in addition to the study-defined standard of care.

Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention

Study-defined standard of care