Importance of Nutrition in Cardiac Rehab Patient Education
Hospital readmission rates are a reflection on quality of care.
Poor care coordination and discharge planning combined with medication errors and adverse events such as infections contribute to readmission rates.
For those being treated for heart disease, poor diet and medication compliance are the most common reasons for readmission.
Cardiac Rehab Patient Education: Nutrition Guidance
Research is analyzing the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation programs, particularly programs that provide a nutrition education component versus those that do not.
One retrospective study reviewed data from 73 cardiac rehabilitation patients who attended nutrition classes. All 30-minute classes were taught by the same registered dietitian incorporating dietary guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association Adult Treatment Panel III and Therapeutic Lifestyle Change diet.
Participants were categorized based on number of classes attended. One session offered twelve nutrition classes and a second session offered a condensed version with six nutrition classes.
Dietary fat intake was used to assess diet quality pre- and post-rehab. Those attending the greatest number of nutrition classes saw the greatest improvement in dietary fat intake.
