Comparison of Organ Congestion Between the Lung and Intestine

Abstract

Pulmonary congestion can be quantitatively assessed using the remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) system, whereas intestinal congestion is evaluated based on the colon wall thickness (CWT) as measured by abdominal computed tomography. However, the relationship between pulmonary and intestinal congestion (i.e., inter-organ congestion) remains poorly understood.

ReDS and CWT values were simultaneously obtained from patients hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases. The association between congestion in these two organs and its prognostic significance for a composite endpoint-including heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality-was investigated.

A total of 111 patients (median age: 79 years; 60 males) were analyzed. Patients with high ReDS values and high CWT exhibited a larger left atrial size and lower prescription rates of loop diuretics compared with patients in the Normal group (P < 0.05 for both). Individuals with elevated ReDS values but low CWTs had larger left atrial dimensions, whereas those with high CWTs but low ReDS values had a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (P < 0.05 for both). The cumulative incidence of the composite endpoint was significantly stratified by the ReDS values (P = 0.037); in contrast, the CWT values did not demonstrate significant stratification (P = 0.71).

Pulmonary and intestinal congestion reflect distinct pathophysiological processes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The simultaneous evaluation of ReDS and CWT values may provide valuable insights to guide personalized therapeutic strategies in this patient population.