The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a home meal delivery program for patients with cirrhosis and ascites and to determine the effectiveness of a salt-restricted (2 gram sodium) meal delivery program in reducing the need for therapeutic paracenteses and/or all-cause re-admissions for these patients. Many patients with cirrhosis don't have enough nutrients in the body and are frail and these meals may help them maintain a good diet and lead to improved quality of life.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
The food will be pre-packaged for storage and patient will prepare these meals at home
Explains how to maintain a low-sodium diet
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Number of therapeutic paracenteses
Number of paracenteses
Time frame: From date of randomization until 12 weeks
Change in Quality of life
Measured by Ascites Symptom Inventory (ASI-7). This is a 7 question scale that measures the subject's symptoms with a value from 0-4 (0=does not apply / 4=very strong applies). The higher the subject's score the worse the subject's symptoms. The mean change will be compared between groups.
Time frame: baseline, week 12
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