Open AccessImplementation of Single-Tab Electrodes for Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Measures
Author(s) -
Paula M. C. Donahue,
Rachelle Crescenzi,
Liping Du,
Manus J. Donahue
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
lymphatic research and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1557-8585
pISSN - 1539-6851
DOI - 10.1089/lrb.2019.0035
Subject(s) - medicine , intraclass correlation , confidence interval , electrode , breast cancer , nuclear medicine , cancer , chemistry , clinical psychology , psychometrics
Background: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) demonstrates proficiency in early identification of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) development. Dual-tab electrodes were designed for consistent and easy electrode placement, however, single-tab electrodes positioned to mimic dual-tab placement on the body may make BIS technology more accessible in community hospitals and outpatient settings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate use of single-tab electrodes for BIS measurements and assess whether single-tab electrodes provide consistent BIS measurements in controls and patients with BCRL. Methods and Results: Upper limb BIS ratios were obtained using ImpediMed L-Dex ® U400 in controls ( n = 13; age = 23-75 years; 9 repeated measurements) using dual-tab and single-tab electrodes. BCRL patients ( n = 17; Stage = 1.65 ± 0.49; number nodes removed = 16.3 ± 7.7; age = 50.9 ± 10.6 years; age range = 33-77 years) and healthy controls ( n = 19) were evaluated to determine if single-tab electrodes provided discriminatory capacity for detecting BCRL. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), linear mixed-effects models, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and linear regression with two-sided p -values <0.05 required for significance were applied. Single-tab electrodes were found to be statistically interchangeable with dual-tab electrodes (ICC = 0.966; 95% confidence interval = 0.937-0.982). No evidence of differences in single-tab versus dual-tab measurements were found for L-Dex ratios ( p = 0.74) from the linear mixed-effects model. Repeated trials involving reuse of the same electrodes revealed a trend toward increases in L-Dex ratio for both styles of electrodes. Single-tab electrodes were significant ( p < 0.0001) for discriminating between BCRL and control subjects. Conclusion: Findings expand upon the potential use of BIS in clinic and research settings and suggest that readily available single-tab electrodes provide similar results as dual-tab electrodes for BIS measurements.