Heart rate variability (HRV) training for symptom control in cancer survivors.

Authors

null

Mark Allen O'Rourke

Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship, Greenville, SC

Mark Allen O'Rourke , Sherry Stokes , Franco Regina , Kerri Susko , William Hendry , Annie Anderson , Jameson Sofge , Jay Ginsberg , James Burch

Organizations

Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship, Greenville, SC, Clemson University Department of Public Health, Clemson, SC, Greenville Health System Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship, Greenville, SC, Greenville Health System Cancer Institute, Greenville, SC, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Late effects of cancer and its treatment include pain, fatigue, stress, and depression, all mediated by autonomic dysfunction. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) coherence is an established measure of optimal autonomic function. HRV coherence is achieved when the heart beat-to-beat intervals increase and decrease with respiration in a smooth rhythm. High coherence is associated with improved mood, cognition, executive function, and optimal pulmonary gas exchange. Cancer survivors have lower HRV than controls. Low HRV has been associated with early mortality, inflammation, and other adverse intermediary outcomes. HRV biofeedback (HRV-B) training improves HRV coherence, restores autonomic health, and reduces the above symptoms. HRV-B is non-pharmacologic, inexpensive, and self-maintained. This report describes a feasibility study of HRV-B in symptomatic cancer survivors. Methods: In a randomized, waitlist-controlled clinical trial, 179 were screened, 35 enrolled and 31 completed the protocol. Participants in the intervention arm received weekly HRV-B training up to six weeks. Outcome measures assessed at baseline (pre) and after week six (post) included HRV coherence plus the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Multi-Dimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Data analyzed using linear-mixed models for repeated measures (SAS Proc Mixed). Results:Conclusions: Delivering HRV Biofeedback training to cancer survivors is feasible in a clinical setting. This study provides preliminary evidence that HRV-B training for cancer survivors improves HRV and reduces pain, fatigue, stress, and depression. HRV-B training has potential for symptom control in cancer survivors. Controlled, multisite studies are indicated.

HRV-B
Intervention
Waitlist
Control
P valueIntervention Trend
PrePostPrePost
HRV coherence.379.847.385.348.036Improved HRV
BPI severity2.421.972.812.73.184Improved pain
BPI interference2.051.443.593.37.015
MFI51.843.462.558.5.010Improved fatigue
PSS17.012.318.817.8.012Improved stress
BDI-II12.95.816.114.0.008Improved depression

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 Cancer Survivorship Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Late- and Long-term Effects/Comorbidities, Psychosocial Issues, and Recurrence and Secondary Malignancies

Track

Late- and Long-term Effects/Comorbidities,Psychosocial Issues,Recurrence and Secondary Malignancies

Sub Track

Symptom Management

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl 5S; abstr 148)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.5_suppl.148

Abstract #

148

Poster Bd #

F1

Abstract Disclosures

Similar Abstracts

Abstract

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Depression, chronic pain, and high-impact chronic pain among cancer survivors.

First Author: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters

First Author: Karis Kin-Fong Cheng