Evaluating venous compliance in heart failure

Venous compliance measurement by strain gauge plethysmography in patients with diagnosed heart failure compared with healthy volunteers. Heart failure patients will require a single visit with the research team, an approximately 30 minute window following a clinically indicated procedure to participate in the study. We will collect the following information for all participants as screening procedures: vital signs including blood pressure and heart rate, a height and weight measurement to calculate BMI, an electrocardiogram, a physical examination and medication review by a medical doctor, a peripheral blood test for renal function, a full blood count and a NT-pro BNP as a marker of heart failure, an echocardiogram. We will also use data-linkage to medical records to collect all other relevant clinical information such as medical history or to use existing information like recently recorded echocardiogram reports if one has been performed within 3 months of enrolment to prevent the need to repeat these during the study. For the study itself a Venous occlusion by strain gauge plethysmography will be performed followed up a collection of blood using the same intravenous catheter used during the venous stiffness test.