Malnutrition and Cachexia in Inpatients With Acute Cardiac Conditions: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Malnutrition prevalence estimates range from 20% to 60% for hospitalized patients

GLIM criteria for malnutrition diagnosis in CVD have confirmed prognostic value (poorer physical function, higher mortality)

Nutritional support, particularly in the cardiac ICU, includes initiation of feeding within 48 hours of hospitalization, preferably enteral

Enteral nutrition is more cost-effective than parenteral and can decrease mortality and shorten length of stay

Parenteral nutrition reserved for severe gastrointestinal dysfunction or to supplement when enteral is contraindicated (e.g. high pressor doses precluding adequate intestinal perfusion, or <70% of nutritional targets after the first week)

Optimal protein intake in cardiogenic shock is under ongoing research; higher protein approaches not appearing beneficial in recent critical care trials