Association Between Nutritional Risk and Physical Function Improvements in Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Frailty in a Community-Based Care Ward

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Cardiovascular disease with frailty (n=84). Intervention: Malnutrition (MNA-SF ≤ 7) vs. Non-malnourished (MNA-SF ≥ 8). Primary outcome: No improvement in physical function (change in Short Physical Performance Battery [ΔSPPB] ≤0) (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.52-2.64, p=0.71).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Malnutrition is not significantly associated with a lack of improvement in physical function (adjusted RR 1.16) among frail patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing rehabilitation in a community-based care ward. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Yuji Oda; Kazufumi Kitagaki; Hirokatsu Unzai; Chihiro Kihara; Madoka Niwano; Chihaya Ueda; Yasushi Wada; Mitsunori Kaneko; Yuhei Otobe

doi:10.1253/circrep.cr-26-0004

June 22, 2026Circulation ReportsOpen Access

Association Between Nutritional Risk and Physical Function Improvements in Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Frailty in a Community-Based Care Ward

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Key result

Malnutrition was not significantly associated with a lack of improvement in physical function (adjusted RR 1.16) among frail patients with cardiovascular disease in a community-based care ward.

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Why the study?

Is nutritional risk associated with improvement in physical function during hospitalization in frail patients with cardiovascular disease?

Key Points

To examine the association between nutritional risk and physical function improvement during hospitalization in frail patients with cardiovascular disease admitted to a community-based care ward.
Analyzed N=84 consecutive frail cardiovascular disease patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation in a community-based care ward, excluding those with missing data, baseline Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores ≥9, non-cardiac transfers, or in-hospital death.
Assessed nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment–Short Form (MNA-SF ≤7 defined as malnourished) and tracked functional recovery using change in SPPB (ΔSPPB) alongside discharge destinations.
Used modified Poisson regression models adjusted for propensity scores to evaluate risk ratios (RR) for lack of functional improvement and institutional discharge.
In a sensitivity analysis defining non-improvement as ΔSPPB ≤2 points, lack of improvement occurred in 85.4% (35/41) of malnourished versus 41.9% (18/43) of non-malnourished patients, demonstrating a significant independent risk (adjusted RR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.19–4.42; P<0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=84)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Is nutritional risk associated with improvement in physical function during hospitalization in frail patients with cardiovascular disease?

P

Population

Cardiovascular disease patients with frailty, particularly those with heart failure, admitted to a community-based care ward

I

Intervention

Nutritional risk (exposure)

O

Outcome

Improvement in physical function during hospitalization

Main Result

Effect estimate: RR 1.16 (95% CI 0.52-2.64)

Absolute Event Rate: 29.3% vs 20.9%

p-value: p=0.71

Limitations

Single-center study with a relatively small sample size
Most patients had heart failure, limiting generalizability to the broader cardiovascular disease population
Small sample size necessitated adjustment using propensity scores instead of individual confounding factors
Influence of unmeasured confounding factors cannot be completely excluded
MNA-SF is a screening tool and not intended for the definitive diagnosis of malnutrition
Differences in rehabilitation content and intensity between groups may have influenced functional outcomes

Abstract

Background: We investigated the association between nutritional risk and improvement in physical function during hospitalization among patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly those with heart failure, admitted to a community-based care ward.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Oda et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular disease with frailty (n=84). Malnutrition (MNA-SF ≤ 7) vs. Non-malnourished (MNA-SF ≥ 8) was evaluated on No improvement in physical function (change in Short Physical Performance Battery [ΔSPPB] ≤0) (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.52-2.64, p=0.71). Malnutrition was not significantly associated with a lack of improvement in physical function (adjusted RR 1.16) among frail patients with cardiovascular disease in a community-based care ward.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3c232cd15afadd906f9d94 https://doi.org/10.1253/circrep.cr-26-0004

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Association Between Nutritional Risk and Physical Function Improvements in Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Frailty in a Community-Based Care Ward

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Association Between Nutritional Risk and Physical Function Improvements in Cardiovascular Disease Patients With Frailty in a Community-Based Care Ward

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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