Bioelectrical Impedance in Cardiovascular Health

Abstract

Bioelectrical impedance (BI) is gaining significant attention for its potential in cardiovascular health monitoring and early disease detection. On the basis of the principles of tissue conductivity and body composition, BI operates by applying a low-amplitude alternating current through the body and measuring the resulting impedance. Different BI techniques, such as body composition assessment, impedance cardiography, transthoracic impedance, and electrical impedance tomography, use these measurements to estimate several clinically relevant parameters such as intracellular and extracellular fluid volumes, cell membrane integrity, cardiac output, stroke volume, systemic vascular resistance, and overall body composition. Because of its portability, safety, and ease of use, BI is increasingly used in cardiovascular health, particularly for monitoring heart failure, evaluating fluid balance, and assessing vascular health. In this review, we describe the basic principles and the evolution of bioimpedance techniques, highlight their current clinical applications in the field of cardiology, and discuss the ongoing developments and future perspectives of this promising tool.