Time of eating and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity.

Background And Aims: Our objective was to examine the impact of caloric intake before or after the mean time of evening meal on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity.

Methods And Results: Twelve patients with HFpEF and obesity completed a cardiorespiratory exercise test to measure CRF, defined as peak oxygen consumption (VO). Three five-pass 24-h dietary recalls were performed for each participant and mean evening meal time was determined for each participant individually as well as the group. Participants were divided into those who ate before (Group I) and after (Group II) the mean time of evening meal, 7:25 PM. Peak VO and exercise time were significantly greater in Group II compared to Group I, moreover, delaying time of evening meal was associated with greater peak VO.

Conclusion: Caloric intake after the mean time of evening meal was associated with better CRF in patients with HFpEF and concomitant obesity. Later nutrient intake may help prevent fasting related stress associated with cardiac metabolic disturbances present in HFpEF. Based on these findings, prospective trials aimed at examining the effects of later evening meal times in patients with HFpEF and obesity are warranted.