Subclinical congestion detected by ultrasound was present in 30% of patients with clinical risk factors for heart failure and was associated with larger left atria and higher natriuretic peptides.
Cross-Sectional (n=238)
What is the prevalence of subclinical congestion detected by ultrasound in patients at risk for heart failure, and how does it associate with clinical markers?
Subclinical congestion detected by ultrasound is common (30%) in patients with heart failure risk factors and is associated with larger left atria and elevated natriuretic peptides.
AIMS: Congestion is a cardinal feature of untreated heart failure (HF) and might be detected by ultrasound (US) before overt clinical signs appear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the prevalence and clinical associations of subclinical congestion in 238 patients with at least one clinical risk factor for HF (diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, or hypertension) using three US variables: (i) inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter; (ii) jugular vein distensibility (JVD) ratio (the ratio of the jugular vein diameter during the Valsalva manoeuvre to that at rest); (iii) the number of B-lines from a 28-point lung US. US congestion was defined as IVC diameter > 2.0 cm, JVD ratio 14. The prevalence of subclinical congestion (defined as at least one positive US marker of congestion) was 30% (13% by IVC diameter, 9% by JVD ratio and 13% by B-line quantification). Compared to patients with no congestion on US, those with at least one marker had larger left atria and higher plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides. Patients with raised plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide/B-type natriuretic peptide had a lower JVD ratio (7.69 vs. 8.80; P = 0.05) and more often had at least one lung B-line (74% vs. 63%; P = 0.05). However, plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations were more closely related to left atrial volume than other US measures of congestion. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical evidence of congestion by US is common in patients with clinical risk factors for HF. Whether these measurements provide additional value for predicting the development of HF and its prevention deserves consideration.
Cuthbert et al. (Sun,) conducted a cross-sectional in Risk of developing heart failure (n=238). Ultrasound measures of congestion was evaluated on Prevalence of subclinical congestion (at least one positive ultrasound marker). Subclinical congestion detected by ultrasound was present in 30% of patients with clinical risk factors for heart failure and was associated with larger left atria and higher natriuretic peptides.
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