A New Monitoring Method for the Estimation of Body Fluid Status by Digital Weight Scale Incorporating Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer in Definite Heart Failure Patients

BackgroundThis pilot study examined the feasibility of monitoring changes in body weight and body-fat percentage (BF%) using commercially available digital weight scale incorporating bioelectrical impedance analyzer (HBF-352-W, Omron Healthcare Co, Kyoto, Japan) to estimate changes in body fluid status in definite heart failure (HF) patients during follow-up.Methods and ResultsA total of 64 patients completed a prospective study (June 2003-December 2006). During the study period, 38 patients developed worsening HF over a mean duration of 34 ± 3 days from the most recent visit with clinical stability to the time of worsening HF status. Of these, 32 patients (84%) showed an increase in body weight concurrent with a decrease in BF% during deterioration. During recovery (n = 35), all but 1 patient showed a decrease in body weight concurrent with an increase in BF%. Combined monitoring of both body weight and BF% provides quite excellent predictive accuracy (70%, 95% CI 59–81%) for identifying worsening HF status when compared with a sole body weight monitoring (56%, 95% CI 44–68%]) (cutoff point of body weight gain ≥1.5 kg).ConclusionsNew monitoring method reported here is an effective tool for specifically detecting fluid weight gain at deterioration in definite HF patients.