Differential effect of malnutrition between patients hospitalized with new-onset heart failure and worsening of chronic heart failure.

Among older hospitalized patients with acute HF, the prevalence and severity of malnutrition were comparable between the two categories of patients. Malnutrition was an independent prognostic factor in patients with new-onset HF, while clinical prognosis was poor in patients with worsening of HF, irrespective of malnutrition. The prognostic impact of malnutrition differs between new-onset HF and worsening of chronic HF.