An Indigenous Food Is Medicine Intervention

Does an Indigenous culturally and medically tailored meal program reduce the incidence of hospitalizations and emergency department visits among patients with heart failure? In this randomized clinical trial that included 206 adults in rural Navajo Nation, the proportion of patients with a hospitalization or emergency department visit was significantly lower among those in the intervention arm compared with usual care (40.6% vs 57.0%). This trial found that culturally and medically tailored meal programs can improve clinical outcomes for patients with heart failure in rural and tribal settings and advance Indigenous cardiovascular health.

Corresponding Author: Lauren A. Eberly, MD, MPH, 516 E Nizhoni Blvd, Gallup, NM 87301 (lauren.eberly@ihs.gov).

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