Prognostic impact of residual pulmonary congestion assessed by remote dielectric sensing system in patients admitted for heart failure.

Abstract

Remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) represents a contemporary non-invasive technique reliant on electromagnetic energy to quantify pulmonary congestion. Its prognostic significance within the context of heart failure (HF) patients remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the prognostic implications of residual pulmonary congestion, as gauged by the ReDS system, among patients admitted due to congestive HF. We enrolled hospitalized HF patients who underwent ReDS assessments upon admission and discharge in a blinded manner, independent of attending physicians. We evaluated the prognostic impact of the ReDS ratio between admission and discharge on the primary outcome, which encompassed all-cause mortality and HF-related re-hospitalizations. A cohort of 133 patients (median age 78 [72, 84] years, 78 male [59%]) was included. Over a median observation period of 363days post-index discharge, an escalated ReDS group (ReDS ratio>100%), determined through statistical calculation, emerged as an independent predictor of the primary outcome, exhibiting an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.37 (95% confidence interval 1.13-16.81, P=0.032). The cumulative incidence of the primary outcome was notably higher in the increased ReDS group compared with the decreased ReDS group (50.1% vs. 8.5%, P=0.034). Elevated ReDS ratios detected during the index hospitalization could serve as a promising prognostic indicator in HF patients admitted for treatment. The clinical ramifications of ReDS-guided HF management warrant validation in subsequent studies.