Introduction: Monitoring pulmonary fluid level in order to reduce heart failure (HF) readmissions is currently done by several invasive and/or debatable accuracy methods. In current study, we assessed the feasibility and safety of remote dielectric sensing (ReDS)technologymonitoring as part of HF management aiming to prevent HF readmissions. ReDStechnology is based on low power electromagnetic (EM) signals, directly measure the lung’s fluid level non-invasively and detect incipient fluid overload.
Methods: 24 HF patients (65% males, age 77.7±9.4 years old, Mean LVF 40) were recruited during their hospitalization with ADHF and followed at home for a median period of 83 ±31.8 days. During the outpatient phase, daily ReDS readings were offered to guide HF therapy. The ReDS-guided therapeutic goal was to bring pulmonary fluid concentration into the "normal ReDS range" (i.e. the "normal green zone", Figure-1) and maintain it throughout the follow-up. The data of the daily ReDS monitoring is available through a secure website to the treating cardiologist who could adjust treatment based on the daily reported ReDS reading and alerts produced when ReDS reading crossed the upper "normal green zone".
Results: Over a period of 3 months follow-up, 71% of the patients crossed the "normal green zone". 88% of these notifications triggered a change in treatment divided to 78% medication change and 10% change in dietary instructions or resolving compliance issues. In 87% of the changes in treatment following ReDS notification the lung's fluid concentration was lowered to the normal range within days. No significant adverse events related to device monitoring were noted. There were 3 admissions during the study follow up (12.5%) which are significantly lower than historical readmission data.
Conclusions: Direct monitoring pulmonary subclinical congestion with ReDS technology may help optimize treatment of patients recently hospitalized with ADHF and reduce their risk for HF readmission. *Figure 1- Daily ReDS based pulmonary fluid level readings (Red, left) in "normal green zone"- and crossing it:{ *Weight (Blue, right) over time. **Bottom: medications over time}.
