Relationship between Serum NT-proBNP level and electrical cardiometry in monitoring heart failure therapy

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex condition with a high death and hospitalization rate worldwide. Monitoring hospitalized patients receiving HF therapy is usually done by either invasive or non-invasive techniques. Nowadays more studies are focused on non-invasive techniques as they are easier and have fewer side effects.
Objective: This study aimed to prove the relationship between electrical cardiometry fluid status measurements and serum NT-pro BNP levels in patients hospitalized for heart failure treatment.
Methods: Fifty patients with chronic heart failure of both sexes over the age of 18 years participated in this prospective trial. Complete history taking, physical examination that included a general, cardiac, and chest examination, routine laboratory investigations and echocardiography evaluation were done for every patient. Assessment of congestion status based on the Everest congestion score, assessment of electrical cardiometry fluid status measurements (TFC and SVV) and NT-proBNP were evaluated for every patient twice, on time on admission and another before discharge after receiving optimal antifailure decongestion therapy.
Results: The Everest congestion score, Thoracic fluid content (TFC) measured by electrical cardiometry (EC), and the serum NT-proBNP level were all significantly lower upon discharge than upon admission (P <0.001). The discharge results had a considerably larger stroke volume variation (SVV) than the admission (P<0.05). Serum NT-proBNP level and TFC at admission and discharge showed a positive correlation, while serum NT-proBNP level and SVV at admission and discharge showed a negative correlation (P value<0.05). Conclusions: EC can play a key role in monitoring the response to heart failure therapy via providing real time non-invasive objective assessment of fluid status through TFC and SVV measurements, which showed strong correlation with NT proBNP levels and Everest congestion score.