Comparing two durations of medically tailored meals posthospitalization: A randomized clinical trial

BackgroundMedically tailored meals (MTM) may be beneficial to patients after hospital discharge. ObjectiveTo determine if 2 versus 4 weeks of MTM posthospitalization will improve patient outcomes. DesignRandomized unblinded trial. Settings and ParticipantsSix hundred and fifty patients pending hospital discharge with at least one chronic condition. InterventionOne MTM a day for 2 versus 4 weeks. Main Outcome and MeasuresThe primary outcome was a change from baseline to 60 days in the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Secondary outcomes measured change in the Katz activities of daily living (ADLs), DETERMINE nutritional risk, and all-cause emergency department (ED) visits and rehospitalizations. ResultsFrom baseline to 60 days the HADS anxiety subscale changed 5.4-4.9 in the 2-week group (p = .03) and 5.4-5.3 in the 4-week group (p = .49); the difference in change between groups 0.4 (p = .25). HADS changed 5.4-4.8 in the 2-week group (p = .005) and 5.3-5.1 in the 4-week group (p = .34); the difference in change between groups 0.4 (p = .18). ADL score changed from 5.3 to 5.6 in the 2-week group (p <= .0001) and 5.2-5.5 in the 4-week group (p <= .0001); the difference in change between groups -0.01 (p = .90). The DETERMINE changed in the 2-week group from 7.2 to 6.4 (p = .0006) and from 7 to 6.7 in the 4-week group (p = .19); the difference in change between groups 0.5 (p = .13). There was no difference in ED visits and rehospitalizations between groups or time to rehospitalization. ConclusionsDifferent durations of short-term MTM did not affect patient-centered or utilization outcomes.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine if 2 versus 4 weeks of medically tailored meals (MTM) after hospitalization would improve patient outcomes. The study found that different durations of short-term MTM did not affect patient-centered or utilization outcomes.