Impedance Cardiography-Guided Treatment of Hypertension: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension occurs when regulatory mechanisms fail, resulting in increased cardiac output (CO) and/or increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive technology that measures CO and SVR.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the literature related to the use of ICG in guiding the selection of anti-hypertensive medications in individuals with hypertension.

DESIGN: PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched for pertinent literature. Only English language, primary research reports published between 1990 and 2014 were included.

FINDINGS: The literature demonstrated significant reduction of blood pressure among participants who were treated with ICG-guided selection of anti-hypertensive medications when compared to standard treatment.

CONCLUSION: Although the research reviewed is not without limitations (e.g., small sample sizes and small effect sizes), individualized pharmacologic treatment of uncontrolled hypertension based on ICG-obtained hemodynamics seems successful in reducing blood pressure. Further research within the Canadian context that addresses the limitations is warranted.