Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) — also known as bioimpedance body composition analysis — is a method of estimating body composition by sending a low-level electrical current through the body. It is commonly used in scales, gym equipment, and clinical settings. Manufacturers have traditionally recommended that patients with pacemakers, ICDs, or cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices (CRT-Ds) avoid BIA due to concerns about potential interference.
However, a small study published in 2012 evaluated 20 patients with heart failure who had either an ICD or CRT-D device implanted. The researchers performed BIA whilst monitoring their devices in real time and found no evidence of interference, including no telemetry disruption, no oversensing on the device leads, and no symptoms experienced by the patients.
Whilst this study suggests BIA may be safe in patients with certain cardiac implants, the researchers noted that further confirmatory studies with larger patient groups are still needed. As always, consult your cardiologist or cardiac electrophysiologist before undergoing any procedure if you have an implanted cardiac device.