Prediction of Heart Failure Hospitalizations Based on the Direct Measurement of Intrathoracic Impedance

AIMS: OptiVol fluid index was developed as a transthoracic impedance-based indicator of short-term risk for heart failure hospitalization (HFH). OptiVol is calculated as the accumulating difference between daily impedance (measured impedance) and long-term average impedance (reference impedance). Measured impedance alone was thought to have limited prognostic utility; however, measured impedance has the advantage of being simple, direct, and possibly additive to OptiVol fluid index in establishing long-term HFH risk. We tested the hypothesis that directly measured impedance has independent prognostic value in predicting long-term HFH risk and that changes in measured impedance result in a change in predicted long-term HFH risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of 1719 patients studied in PARTNERS-HF, FAST, and RAFT studies was performed. Baseline measured impedance was determined using daily values averaged over 1 month, from Month 6 to 7 post implant; change in measured impedance was determined from values averaged over 1 month, from Month 7 to 8 post implant compared with baseline. The predictive value of baseline measured impedance for HFHs was assessed beginning 7 months post implant. The predictive value of a change in measured impedance for a change in HFHs was assessed beginning 8 months post implant. Baseline measured impedance successfully predicted HFHs. For example, 3 year HFH rate for low baseline impedance < 70 Ω was 23%; for high baseline impedance ≥ 70 Ω was 15% (P < 0.001). Changes in measured impedance resulted in changes in predicted HFHs. For example, when a baseline impedance of ≥70 fell during follow-up to <70 Ω, the subsequent HFHs were 15% compared with 4% in patients with measured impedance that remained >70 Ω (P = 0.004). In addition, when baseline measured impedance fell during follow-up by >1%, 2%, or 3%, subsequent HFHs increased to 13%, 17%, or 18%, respectively. Finally, the prognostic value of measured impedance was additive to the prognostic value of the OptiVol fluid index. CONCLUSIONS: Direct measurements of intrathoracic impedance using an implanted device can be used to stratify patients at varying risk of long-term HFH. These direct measurements of impedance have practical clinical appeal because they are simple, continuous, and ambulatory.