NCT03692624

Use of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback for Cancer Survivors

Use of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback for Symptom Management Among Cancer Survivors: Pilot Intervention

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 34 (actual)
• Sponsor: Prisma Health-Upstate · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) is a complementary, non-pharmacologic therapy that is being tested to see if it can help cancer survivors reduce their symptoms of pain, stress, insomnia, fatigue, or depression. HRV-B is an interactive procedure in which participants relax and breathe regularly while watching the a computer screen. The computer screen provides feedback that helps people increase their heart rate variability.

Detailed description

Cancer survivors often suffer from prolonged and persistent symptom clusters that can include: pain, stress, depression, fatigue, and insomnia; symptoms that have each been associated with inflammation. The number of cancer survivors in the United States is expected to triple by the year 2030. Thus, there is a compelling need to develop and refine effective methods to promote high quality cancer survivorship. Dysregulation of autonomic function is a key pathophysiological 'common denominator' whereby many cancer-related symptoms likely converge. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a valid, noninvasive measure of autonomic function with established pathological and psychophysiological attributes. Reduced HRV is a known mortality risk factor, and about 80% of advanced cancer patients exhibit autonomic dysregulation. Cancer survivors with reduced HRV have increased mortality risk relative to those with normal HRV. HRV biofeedback (HRV-B) is an interactive procedure whereby patients learn to increase HRV and restore autonomic balance. HRV coherence refers to a state of optimum HRV rhythm that produces physiological entrainment of HRV, respiration, and the baroreflex. With HRV coherence, consecutive inter-beat intervals cycle from maximum to minimum and back to maximum over a period of about 10 seconds, which is associated with increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic tone, and a heightened state of well-being including improved affect, cognition, and executive function. Previous research suggests that HRV-B interventions may be useful for reducing symptoms of: chronic pain, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heart disease, and insomnia. HRV-B thus represents a promising complementary, nonpharmacological therapy that merits examination for relief of chronic pain and related symptoms among cancer survivors.

Conditions

• Cancer

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Biofeedback	Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-05-10
• Primary completion: 2017-04-19
• Completion: 2020-02-07
• First posted: 2018-10-02
• Last updated: 2020-03-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States