UT Southwestern Study Shows Medically Tailored Meals Improve Quality of Life for Heart Failure Patients

A University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 found that medically tailored meals and fresh produce deliveries significantly improved quality of life for heart failure patients. The research, led by Dr. Ambarish Pandey, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, involved 150 adults enrolled within two weeks of hospital discharge for acute heart failure.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either medically tailored meals with dietary counseling, fresh produce boxes with dietary counseling, or dietary counseling alone. Dr. Pandey emphasized the critical importance of proper nutrition for heart failure patients, noting that their condition often worsens without appropriate food after hospital discharge. Patients require nutritious meals providing optimal nutrients, including appropriate calorie intake, adequate protein, and limited sodium, sugar, and fat.

The study's key findings revealed that participants in both food delivery groups reported higher quality of life compared to those receiving only dietary guidance, based on responses to the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire. Interestingly, patients in conditional delivery groups requiring prescription pick-up confirmation reported higher quality of life than those in unconditional delivery groups. Participants receiving fresh produce boxes who could incorporate the produce into their own meals reported greater satisfaction than those receiving prepared meals.

However, the study found no significant differences in hospital readmissions or emergency department visits between food delivery groups and the counseling-only group. During the 90-day study period, there were 32 hospital readmissions and emergency department visits for heart failure, with 18% of participants experiencing one or more readmissions or emergency visits. These findings suggest healthy foods may affect disease progression and outcomes for people with chronic conditions like heart failure.

Access to healthy food represents a significant social factor influencing cardiovascular disease risk and outcomes. According to the American Heart Association's 2025 Scientific Statement available at https://www.heart.org, programs integrating healthy food and healthcare for people with or at high risk for chronic disease show great potential for improving diet quality and food security. The study population reflected substantial health challenges, with 95% having high blood pressure, 54% with Type 2 diabetes, 53% reporting food insecurity, and 55% reporting nutrition insecurity.

The trial received funding from the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food initiative at https://www.heart.org, which conducts scientific research, public policy advocacy, and stakeholder education to advance food is medicine interventions. Study limitations include the small sample size of 150 patients and short 90-day follow-up period. Larger studies with more participants and longer follow-up periods are needed to determine whether food programs can reduce hospitalizations or improve survival rates. Dr. Pandey and colleagues are planning a phase 3 trial involving 1,200–1,500 people at multiple hospitals to further investigate these findings.