Malnutrition linked with increased mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Malnutrition is associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to a study.

This study examined the relationships between malnutrition risk and all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events (MACEs) by applying the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to 5062 patients with ACS.

Researchers found that 11.2%, 39.5%, and 8.9% patients were moderately or severely malnourished according to the CONUT score, NRI, and PNI, respectively. Approximately 72% of patients were at least mildly malnourished by at least 1 score.

Up to 36% of patients with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m2 were considered moderately or severely malnourished.

After more than 3 years follow-up, 16.4% of patients had died and 20.7% had MACEs.

Malnutrition was associated with significantly increased risk for all-cause death when compared to patients with good nutritional status.

The authors concluded that, “Clinical trials are needed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of nutritional interventions on outcomes in patients with ACS.”

Reference
Roubín SR, Assi EA, Fernandez MC, et al. Prevalence and prognostic significance of malnutrition in patients ith acute Ccoronary syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;76(7):828-840.