Cardiac Recovery Through Dietary Support

This is a prospective, randomized, wait-list controlled study examining the impact of providing medically appropriate meals to patients discharged from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital after acute decompensated heart failure. Upon discharge, patients will be randomized to either the intervention or wait list control arm. The intervention is the delivery of medically appropriate meals and groceries to patients' homes in a tapered manner over five months (the equivalent of three meals a day for 60 days, then the equivalent of two meals a day for 30 days, then the equivalent of one meal a day for 60 days) and monthly assessments with a registered dietician (RD). All food and RD assessments are administered via a community partner, Project Open Hand, as a modification of current offerings for clients at Project Open Hand. Subjects randomized into the wait list control arm will receive the food intervention five months after discharge. The study's primary aim is to examine the impact of nutritional support on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire scores. In addition, the study aims to examine the impact of nutritional support on healthcare utilization (particularly readmission rates and emergency room utilization), dietary change, medication adherence, and quality of life.