Nutritional management of anemia in a heart failure patient

Anaemia is very common in hospitalized patients. It leads to poor outcome due to weakness, fatigues, irritability, anorexia, increased risk of infections and reduced functional capacity. Therefore present case study was selected to study nutritional management of anemia in a heart failure patient. On the basis of subjective global assessment (SGA), patient was found at risk of malnutrition. He was severely anemic with poor food intake due to hemetemesis and blood in stools as evidenced by low haemoglobin levels and generalized weakness. After assessment and diagnosis, the patient was given high protein, iron and vitamin c rich low fluid, low salt diet. At the time of discharge, a good improvement was found at the time of discharge as his haemoglobin levels, functional capacity and diet intake were improved. Patient was found more active at the time of discharge. Thus dedicated multidisciplinary health care team including a dietician plays a very important role in better outcome of patient.