Mortality in adult patients with fluid overload evaluated by BIVA upon admission to the emergency department

Purpose of the study The aim of this study was to investigate the association of fluid overload, measured by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and also by accumulated fluid balance, with 30-day mortality rates in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). Design We conducted a prospective observational study of fluid overload using BIVA, taking measures using a multiple-frequency whole-body tetrapolar equipment. Accumulated fluid balances were obtained at 24, 48 and 72 hours from ED admission and its association with 30-day mortality. Patients 109 patients admitted to the ED classified as fluid overloaded by both methods. results According to BIVA, 71.6% (n=78) of patients had fluid overload on ED admission. These patients were older and had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores. During a median follow-up period of 30 days, 32.1% (n=25) of patients with fluid overload evaluated by BIVA died versus none with normovolaemia (p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients with and without fluid overload as assessed by accumulated fluid balance (p=0.81). Conclusions Fluid overload on admission evaluated by BIVA was significantly related to mortality in patients admitted to the ED.