Diuresis-Related Weight Loss Reflects Interstitial Compartment Decongestion with Minimal Impact on Intravascular Volume Expansion or Outcomes in Post-Acute Heart Failure

The development of symptomatic clinical congestion is the most common basis for hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure (HF).1-2 The relief of congestion is, therefore, a central goal of intervention, and diuretic therapy is the mainstay to achieve that goal. The effectiveness of treatment is commonly based on improvement in symptoms and clinical assessment with change in body weight being a common metric used to assess adequacy of decongestive therapy. Thus, if weight loss reflects clinical decongestion and symptomatic improvement, this metric should also be associated with better post-hospital outcomes.
Source: Journal of Cardiac Failure - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research