Device-based impedance measurement is a useful and accurate tool for direct assessment of intrathoracic fluid accumulation in heart failure

Heart failure patients are often equipped with implanted devices and are frequently hospitalized due to volume overload. Reliable prediction of imminent fluid congestion has the potential to provide early detection of cardiac decompensation and therefore might be capable of enhancing therapy management. We investigated whether implant-based impedance (Z) measurement is closely correlated with directly assessed extravascular lung water and might thus be useful for patient monitoring.