Inferior Vena Cava collapsibility and heart failure signs and symptoms: new insights about possible links.
BACKGROUND
In chronic heart failure patients (CHF), ultrasound measurement of inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI) has been proposed to yield careful assessment and grading of the hemodynamic congestion.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to correlate the findings of physical examination with IVCCI in CHF patients.


METHODS
According to a retrospective cohort design, we analyzed 54 CHF patients with right or biventricular CHF, belonging to III NYHA class. We planned to determine whether any basal IVCCI range would be able to predict persistent or worsening clinical congestion found at the end of subsequent follow up (i.e. after 1-2 months of oral optimized therapy). For this purpose, the patients were subdivided by three groups according to the basal IVCCI value: ≤ 15% (13 pts), 16 - 40% (21 pts) and > 40% (20 pts).Several clinical criteria of congestion were compared across the three groups and subsequently entered in the Cox multivariate model.


RESULTS
Multivariate predictors of high congestion score were jugular venous distension (HR: 13,38 95% C.I.: 2,13 - 84 p = 0,0059) and rales (HR: 11 95% C.I : 1,45 - 83,8 p = 0,0213). IVCCI ≤ 15% was always associated with high congestion score at the second visit; but IVCCI ≤ 15% failed to predict high congestion score at the second visit.


CONCLUSIONS
In CHF setting, low IVCCI did not reliably predict high congestion score. Nevertheless, the cluster with IVCCI ≤ 15% was always found associated with signs and symptoms from both right and left-sided decompensated CHF.
Cardiology Unit, Presidio Sanitario Intermedio Elena d Aosta. r.de.vecchis@alice.it
Renato
R
De Vecchis
Antonio
A
Ciccarelli
Carmelina
C
Ariano
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*