Pilot Study of the CoVa™ Monitoring of Patients With Congestive Heart Failure (CoVa)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults over age 18
• Have wireless internet access within their homes.

• Acute hospitalization with a primary diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) diagnosed on the basis of all of the following:

  1. Symptoms:

     • Onset or worsening of dyspnea within the past 2 weeks

  2. Physical exam (at least 1 present):

     • Rales/ Crackles on auscultation
     • Elevated JVP > 8 cmH2O
     • Weight gain
     • LE edema

  3. Diagnostic imaging/ labs (at least 1 present):

     • Evidence of pulmonary congestion or edema on chest X-ray/ chest CT
     • Elevated NT-pro-BNP (age-adjusted) (>1000)
• Patients of particular interest will be those who already have a Medtronic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy device with the OptiVol feature that tracks transthoracic impedance.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to ECG electrodes
• Psychological or social situation that would make the study difficult for the patient
• Inability to consent
• Pregnant women
• Pneumonia - currently, or within the past 30 days
• Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (e.g. ARDS)
• Interstitial lung disease
• End-stage renal disease and on hemodialysis
• For any reason unable to wear or place the CoVa™ device, e.g. pectus excavatum, fragile skin, severe arthritis.