Evaluating Impedance Monitoring to Reduce Hospital Readmissions for Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Integrative Review

Congestive Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic progressive cardiac disorder with high mortality rates and is the number one reason for hospital readmission in the United States. More than 5 million Americans live with HF with more than 900,000 new diagnoses annually. The likelihood of developing HF increases with age making it the most common primary diagnosis for patients over age 65. HF has a significant impact on quality of life, with depression being a common comorbid condition. Thoracic impedance monitoring has shown to reduce exacerbations and hospitalizations in patients with HF. This project evaluated the literature related to impedance monitoring in the management of HF. The projected outcome for this project is to demonstrate the state of evidence regarding the effect of impedance monitoring on 30 day hospital readmission rates