The UPHILL study: A nutrition and lifestyle intervention to improve quality of life for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract The aim of the UPHILL study (a nutrition and lifestyle intervention in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension [PAH]: effect on quality of life [QoL]), was to determine the effect of innovative nutritional interventions on adjustments in nutritional intake and QoL. In this study a group of prevalent PAH patients at a single center in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) was informed about healthy nutrition using a newly designed video e‐learning. They were subsequently instructed to follow a healthy diet during dietary intervention. Nutritional intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (HELIUS) and QoL by the short‐form (SF)‐36 questionnaire. Nutritional parameters were determined in blood samples. Seventeen patients stable under treatment, who had been diagnosed with PAH 7.0 [3.0−14.0] years before, started and completed the intervention (2 males, 15 females; 45.35 ± 13.57 years). Since all patients in the intervention group made behavioral changes in nutritional intake, during study and follow‐up, nutritional and lifestyle adaptations persisted. Despite the fact that patients had already high mean scores at baseline for both mental (74.10 [60.51−84.25]) and physical QoL (66.46 [50.21−73.84]), scores improved further during e‐learning. Furthermore, patients who realized most nutritional adaptations, had the best improvement in QoL. This pilot study showed that e‐learning modules on nutrition provide an unique opportunity to change nutritional intake in PAH patients and by that improve QoL

Nutritional status in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract Nutritional deficiencies have been described in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), such as in iron and vitamin D. However, an extensive description of vitamin and mineral status is lacking and until now there is no data on dietary intake in PAH patients. We analyzed blood samples and determined nutritional intake using a food frequency questionnaire (HELIUS) in a cohort of prevalent PAH patients at a single center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the SF‐36 questionnaire. In total, 37 patients were included (6 males, 31 females; 48 ± 16 years). The dietary intake of sugar was above 25 g in 87% of the patients and fluid intake was above 1500 ml in 78% of the patients. Sodium intake was below 1800 mg in the majority (56%) of the patients. Sugar and fluid intake were linear related. We confirm previously observed deficiencies of iron and vitamin D in our study population. In addition, we observed a functional vitamin B12 deficiency in 29% of patients, which coincided with an increased expression of methylmalonic acid. 60% of patients had a low vitamin K1 status (<0.8 nmol/L). Finally, 40% of patients had selenium levels below <100 μg/L and low selenium levels associated with reduced vitality in these patients. Besides the known deficiencies in iron and vitamin D levels, we observed in a subset of patients signs of vitamin B12, vitamin K1 and selenium deficiencies. There is room for improving dietary intake. Future research aims to demonstrate the clinical importance and reveal the effect of nutritional interventions