Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship, Greenville, SC
Mark Allen O'Rourke , Regina A. Franco , Jameson Sofge , Jay Ginsberg , Kerri Susko , Elizabeth Crowley , Annie Anderson , Alex Christ , John Hanna , William Hendry , James Burch
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 autonomic dysfunction. Cancer survivors have lower HRV coherence than normal controls. HRV biofeedback (HRV-B) training improves HRV coherence, restores autonomic health, and reduces the above symptoms. This report describes a feasibility study of HRV-B in symptomatic cancer survivors. Methods: In a randomized, waitlist controlled, clinical trial, 179 were screened, 34 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 Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ), Suscro Distress Inventory (SDI), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Multi-Dimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Results: See table below. Conclusions: Delivering HRV Biofeedback training to cancer survivors is feasible at our Cancer Institute. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that HRV-B for cancer survivors improves HRV coherence and reduces insomnia, pain, fatigue, depression, and stress. The intervention has great potential and further research is indicated.
Intent to treat | HRV-B (N=17) | Waitlist Control (n=17) | P value, One tail | Intervention Trend |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pre Post | Pre Post | |||
HRV Coherence | .387 .853 | .396 .335 | .022 | Improved |
PSS | 17.3 12.5 | 19.0 17.2 | .020 | Improved |
BDI-II | 12.8 5.70 | 16.3 13.9 | .006 | Improved |
MFI general | 12.4 10.5 | 14.8 14.0 | .005 | Improved |
MFI physical | 11.6 10.5 | 13.4 12.4 | .097 | Improved trend |
MFI reduced activity | 9.38 6.54 | 10.9 9.25 | .019 | Improved |
MFI mental | 11.3 10.0 | 13.7 13.4 | .003 | Improved |
BPI severity | 2.71 2.18 | 2.66 2.61 | .302 | |
BPI interference | 2.37 1.66 | 3.40 3.15 | .041 | Improved |
SDI (distress) | 16.1 10.1 | 20.4 18.1 | .007 | Improved |
ISQ sleep symptoms | 14.6 8.4 | 16.5 18.1 | <.001 | Improved |
ISQ daytime impair | 11.2 5.4 | 12.6 12.6 | .005 | Improved |
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 Disclosures
2021 ASCO Annual Meeting
First Author: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters
2017 Cancer Survivorship Symposium
First Author: Mark Allen O'Rourke
2024 ASCO Breakthrough
First Author: Marco Santos Teles
2022 ASCO Annual Meeting
First Author: Xinwen Hu