Doctors often miss malnutrition (not getting enough nutrients) in heart patients when they arrive at the hospital. Researchers in India created and tested a new screening tool to help healthcare workers quickly identify which heart patients need nutritional support. They surveyed 50 healthcare professionals and tested the tool with 173 heart patients aged 30-60. The results showed the tool works well and can be used in hospitals to catch nutrition problems early, which is important because proper nutrition helps heart patients recover better.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can a new, customized nutrition screening tool help doctors quickly identify heart patients who aren’t getting enough nutrients?
  • Who participated: 173 heart patients between ages 30-60 admitted to hospitals in India, plus 50 healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, nutritionists) who answered questions about their nutrition screening practices
  • Key finding: The new screening tool successfully identified nutrition risk levels: 35% of patients had low risk, 59% had medium risk, and 7% had high risk. The tool was reliable and consistent when tested multiple times.
  • What it means for you: If you’re admitted to a hospital with heart problems, this tool may help doctors catch nutrition issues early. However, this study was done in India, so hospitals in other countries may need to test it first before using it widely.

The Research Details

This research had two main parts. First, researchers asked 50 healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and nutritionists) questions about how they screen patients for nutrition problems and what they think about it. About 68% of them answered the survey. Second, researchers tested a new nutrition screening tool with 173 heart patients within the first 1-2 days after they were admitted to the hospital. They checked if the tool gave consistent results and if it worked the same way when used multiple times by different people.

Heart patients often have nutrition problems that doctors miss, which can slow down their recovery. A tool designed specifically for the Indian hospital setting—considering local food, culture, and healthcare practices—is more likely to work well than tools created for other countries. This study shows that healthcare workers think nutrition screening is important and that a customized tool can help them do their job better.

The study tested the tool’s reliability in two ways: checking if all parts of the tool measured the same thing (internal consistency) and checking if the tool gave the same results when used again (test-retest reliability). The tool showed very strong reliability (correlation of 0.97, which is excellent). However, this was a single-center study in India, so results may not apply everywhere. The researchers recommend larger studies comparing this tool to others before using it widely.

What the Results Show

The modified nutrition screening tool successfully categorized heart patients into three risk groups. Among the 173 patients tested, 35% were at low nutritional risk (meaning they’re eating well enough), 59% were at medium risk (meaning they could benefit from some nutrition support), and 7% were at high risk (meaning they need immediate nutrition help). The tool was very consistent—when tested multiple times, it gave the same results, with a correlation score of 0.97 (where 1.0 is perfect consistency). The tool was also practical to use, taking minimal time to complete within 24-48 hours of hospital admission.

The survey of 50 healthcare professionals showed that most recognized the importance of nutrition screening for heart patients. However, many felt they needed better tools designed for their specific hospital setting. The healthcare workers appreciated that the new tool was tailored to the Indian context, considering local dietary patterns and hospital resources. This feedback suggests that customized tools are more likely to be used regularly by hospital staff.

Previous nutrition screening tools were often created in Western countries and may not fit well in Indian hospitals due to different foods, eating habits, and healthcare systems. This study adds to growing evidence that nutrition screening tools work better when adapted to local settings. The high reliability scores (0.97) are comparable to or better than other validated nutrition screening tools used internationally.

This study only included heart patients aged 30-60 in one hospital setting in India, so results may not apply to younger or older patients or to hospitals in other countries. The study didn’t compare this new tool directly to other existing nutrition screening tools, so we can’t say if it’s better or just different. The researchers recommend larger studies in multiple hospitals and different regions before the tool is used everywhere. Additionally, the study focused on one specific patient group (cardiac patients), so the tool may need adjustment for other types of patients.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a healthcare professional in an Indian hospital setting, this tool appears to be a reliable option for screening heart patients for nutrition problems (moderate to high confidence). If you’re a heart patient, ask your hospital if they use nutrition screening and discuss any nutrition concerns with your doctor or nutritionist (general recommendation). The tool should be used as part of routine care within 24-48 hours of hospital admission.

Hospital administrators and healthcare workers in India and similar settings should care about this research. Heart patients and their families should care because catching nutrition problems early can improve recovery. This may be less immediately relevant to hospitals in Western countries until larger comparative studies are done, though the approach of customizing tools for local settings is valuable everywhere.

The screening itself takes just minutes to complete. Nutrition improvements typically take 2-4 weeks to show benefits, depending on the severity of the nutrition problem and the interventions provided. Heart patients should see better recovery outcomes if nutrition problems are caught and treated early, though this study didn’t measure long-term recovery outcomes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily food intake and energy levels if you’re a cardiac patient. Log what you eat, portion sizes, and how you feel each day. If using this screening tool, record your risk category and any nutrition recommendations from your doctor.
  • Work with your hospital’s nutritionist to create a heart-healthy eating plan based on your screening results. If you’re at medium or high nutritional risk, focus on eating nutrient-dense foods (foods packed with vitamins and minerals) at regular meal times. Use the app to set reminders for meals and track whether you’re meeting nutrition goals.
  • Check in weekly with your nutrition status by tracking weight, energy levels, and how well you’re following your eating plan. If you notice weight loss, increased fatigue, or difficulty eating, report it to your healthcare team immediately. Use the app to share this data with your doctor or nutritionist during follow-up visits.

This research describes a nutrition screening tool designed for use in Indian hospital settings with cardiac patients. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you are a heart patient or concerned about your nutrition, please consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. The tool described in this study is intended for healthcare professionals to use in clinical settings, not for self-diagnosis. Results from this single-center study in India may not apply to all populations or healthcare settings. Always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for nutrition and cardiac care.