Give a MANNA a Fish, Teach a MANNA to Fish

Cirrhosis, Liver, Liver Diseases, Malnutrition

MANNA, Nutrition, Cirrhosis, Liver, Liver Diseases, Dietary compliance, Low sodium diet, Non-profit, Salt affinity, Behavioral changes

This study is a randomized pilot seeking to address low patient adherence to a low sodium diet as a strategy to improve outcomes of patients with cirrhosis of the liver. In coordination with the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) of Philadelphia, patients in the intervention cohort will receive low sodium MANNA meals to encourage improved dietary compliance. Outcomes of these interventional patients will be compared to those receiving standard of care--namely, educational intervention by physicians supplemented by occasional counseling from dieticians during clinic visits encouraging a low sodium diet. Dietary compliance will be evaluated by urine sodium and salt affinity tests and used as a positive marker for improved outcomes. The target population of this study is patients diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, aged 18-85 years living within the MANNA-serviced area.

Malnutrition causes and complicates numerous chronic illnesses. One in three hospitalized patients in the United States is malnourished, accounting for delayed recovery, increased complications, extended length of stay, and avoidable utilization of healthcare. The projected cost of chronic disease from 2016-2030 in Pennsylvania is $1.7 trillion, with 5% of people accounting for 50 % of healthcare spending. Patients with cirrhosis of the liver often present with profound malnutrition due to the catabolic effects of their disease. Because of this, adhering to a low sodium diet is of paramount importance in order to avoid fluid overload, a common cause for hospital readmission of patients with cirrhotic decompensations. By maintaining a proper diet, it is possible to mitigate the medical deterioration of patients as well as mitigate the expense of managing chronic illnesses like cirrhosis. Results from MANNA, a not-for-profit food delivery service, have shown a monthly care cost reduction for patients receiving meals from $41,000 to $28,000, and monthly inpatient cost reduction from $220,000 to $132,000. Results also show that changes in nutritional behavior also improve treatment rates, physical activity, and reduce substance abuse. MANNA has been able to deliver more than 13,000,000 meals to over 20,000 clients since 1990. 99% of patients reported improved overall health after receiving the meals, 92% reported improved emotional health, 98% said it reduced their stress, and 96% said the meals improved their energy. Existing solutions in most health systems are nutritional counseling (either very briefly by a physician, or if patients are fortunate, by a dietician). This is usually not a longitudinal process, and patients are often overwhelmed by medical information. Despite their remarkable results the acute illness space (6 months of meals), the MANNA service is not scalable to the management of chronic illness; through this study investigators seek to bridge that gap. In coordination with MANNA, investigators will provide 3 months of low sodium MANNA meals to patients in the interventional cohort in an effort to encourage improved adherence to a low sodium diet. Dietary compliance will be assessed using urine sodium and salt affinity tests, and results will be compared between the cohort receiving MANNA meals and the cohort receiving standard of care dietary counseling. Investigators will continue to follow patients for an additional 3 months following the completion of their MANNA service to determine if receiving pre-made low sodium meals for even a short period of time is likely to provide any long-term benefit beyond the span of the study.

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