CSP #2025 - Geriatric OUt-of-hospital Randomized MEal Trial in Heart Failure: Veterans Affairs (GOURMET-VA)

Purpose

The purpose of this multi-center clinical trial is to study the efficacy and safety of providing nutritional support added to the study-defined standard of care which consists of standardized dietary education and a single dietary counseling session shortly after discharge, versus study-defined standard of care alone.

Condition

  • Heart Failure

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 60 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Veterans enrolled in a VHA facility - Hospitalized ( 24 hours) with new HF or worsening chronic HF - 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) - Able and willing to provide informed consent and perform study activities

Exclusion Criteria

  • Food allergies or intolerances that cannot be accommodated by study diet - On dialysis or estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 at randomization - Serum potassium (non-hemolyzed) >6.0 mmol/L during index hospitalization - Heart transplant or active transplant listing - Left ventricular assist device present or anticipated <6 months - Malignancy or other non-cardiac condition limiting life expectancy to <12 months - Planned admission to a skilled nursing facility following hospital discharge, or discharge to other location/situation where Veteran does not have control over diet - Lack of space to store food for a week or equipment to prepare food - Severe cognitive impairment (SLUMS score <20, or <19 if less than high school education completed) - Severe food insecurity (5 or 6 points on the USDA 6-item Food Insecurity Screen) - Body mass index >50 kg/m2 - Other medical, psychiatric, behavioral, or logistical condition which, in the clinical judgement of the site investigator, makes it unlikely the patient can effectively participate in or complete the study

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Two-arm study: active intervention vs study-defined standard of care
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Due to the nature of the intervention, participants, dietitians, and site coordinators can't be blinded. However, the investigators and outcome assessors will be blinded

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Control
Study-defined standard of care
  • Other: Study -defined standard of care
    Study-defined standard of care consists of standardized dietary education and a single dietary counseling session shortly after discharge
Experimental
Home-delivered meals and short-term dietary counseling
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.
  • Other: Home-delivered meals and short-term dietary counseling
    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.

Recruiting Locations

Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC
Washington D.C., District of Columbia 20422-0001
Contact:
Pamela Steele, MD
(20-296-850)
pamela.steele@va.gov

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development

Study Contact

Yuan Huang
(203) 737-7966
Yuan.Huang1@va.gov