Relationship of central venous pressure to body fluid volume status and its prognostic implication in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Abstract Background Although central venous pressure (CVP) is a surrogate measure of preload in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), it is a multifactorial index influenced not only by fluid volume status, but also by cardiac pump function and other factors. We aimed to elucidate the individual pathophysiological factors of CVP elevation in patients with ADHF by assessing the relationship between CVP and extracellular fluid volume status (EVS). Methods and Results We quantified EVS in 100 patients with ADHF with the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis. CVP was also measured at the same time point. Subjects were categorized into tertiles according to their CVP-EVS ratios, and patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared among these tertiles. The upper-tertile group had a higher incidence of impaired right ventricular pump function, whereas the lower-tertile group had higher incidences of severe inflammation, hypoalbuminemia, and renal dysfunction. Patients in both the upper and lower tertiles had a significantly higher cardiac event rate than those in the middle tertile. Conclusions The combined assessment of CVP and EVS provides insight into both the total volume status and distribution of body fluid in ADHF patients, and it may have applications in guiding decongestive therapy and improving prognostic predictions.