Amino-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide, inferior vena cava ultrasound, and biolectrical impedance analysis for the diagnosis of acute decompensated CHF

Both Framingham criteria and natriuretic peptides (NPs) may worsen their diagnostic validity for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in elderly patients with comorbidities, mainly renal failure. Ultrasound of inferior vena cava (IVCu) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are useful tools for detecting ADHF, although their utility compared with NP is not fully established. We conducted a prospective study with 96 patients who presented at the emergency department with dyspnea and were classified as ADHF and non-ADHF groups. Inferior vena cava ultrasonography measured maximum and minimum inferior vena cava diameters and collapsibility index (CIx), whereas BIA calculated resistance (Rz) and reactance (Xc). The primary goal was to compare amino-terminal pro–B-type NP (NT-proBNP), IVCu, and BIA for identifying ADHF. The ADHF group showed significantly (P