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Biofeedback treatment increases heart rate variability in patients with known coronary artery disease

Jessica M Del Pozo1, Richard N Gevirtz, Bret Scher

  • 1California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego, Calif 9213, USA.

American Heart Journal
|March 5, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Cardiorespiratory biofeedback significantly increases heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This intervention may improve cardiac outcomes and reduce mortality rates in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biofeedback
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Diminished heart rate variability (HRV) is linked to increased cardiac morbidity and mortality.
  • Lifestyle changes and pharmacologic therapies can potentially improve HRV.
  • Biofeedback presents a novel approach to enhance HRV in cardiac patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of cardiorespiratory biofeedback in increasing HRV.
  • To assess the impact of biofeedback on patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD).

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-three patients with established CAD were randomized to either conventional therapy or 6 biofeedback sessions.
  • Biofeedback included abdominal breath training and cardiorespiratory feedback.
  • HRV was measured using standard deviation of normal-to-normal QRS complexes (SDNN) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 18 weeks.

Main Results:

  • The biofeedback group demonstrated a significant increase in SDNN from baseline to week 6 (P <.001) and week 18 (P =.003).
  • No significant changes in SDNN were observed in the control group at week 6 (P =.214) or week 18 (P =.27).
  • SDNN differed significantly between groups at week 18.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiorespiratory biofeedback is effective in increasing HRV in patients with CAD.
  • Biofeedback may serve as a valuable tool for improving cardiac health and reducing mortality.
  • Further research is warranted to explore biofeedback's role in cardiac rehabilitation.
Abstract

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