Measuring fluid buildup when heart failure patients leave the hospital

When people are hospitalized for acute heart failure, doctors work hard to remove excess fluid from the body. However, many patients still have fluid buildup remaining when they go home—and this leftover fluid is linked to worse outcomes. This study uses multiple measurement methods (physical exams, blood tests, and imaging scans) together to better detect this remaining fluid and predict which patients will have the most problems after discharge.

Current treatment often doesn't remove all the excess fluid patients need to lose, but doctors don't have a good way to detect the fluid that remains. This trial exists to find a better measurement approach that can identify patients at highest risk so they can get extra support and monitoring after leaving the hospital.