P661 - IMPACT OF MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

P661

IMPACT OF MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹HMC, Doha, Qatar

Rationale: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults, with management complicated by age-related changes and comorbidities. This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of a structured, geriatric-specific Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) intervention on cardiovascular outcomes, medication requirements, and quality of life in adults aged 70 and older with established cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A prospective intervention study involving 64 older adults (mean age 78.2 years) with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or heart failure provided individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) from registered dietitians. The intervention included personalized meal planning, simplified dietary patterns, and caregiver education, with clinical outcomes measured at baseline and 16-week follow-up.

Results: Following the intervention, significant improvements were observed in cardiovascular parameters, including a mean systolic blood pressure decrease of 9.6 mmHg (p<0.01) and a 14% reduction in LDL cholesterol (p=0.003). Additionally, heart failure patients showed improved symptom scores and a 52% reduction in hospital admissions (p<0.01), with 38% of participants experiencing medication adjustments and 22% achieving dose reductions while maintaining target parameters. Quality of life scores improved significantly (p=0.002), with 72% of participants showing enhanced nutritional status.

Conclusion: Structured MNT interventions tailored to older adults significantly improved cardiovascular outcomes while potentially reducing medication burden. Results highlight the importance of geriatric-specific nutritional approaches as an integral component of cardiovascular disease management. Integration of specialized MNT protocols into standard care may enhance treatment efficacy while improving quality of life in this vulnerable population.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared