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Novel Virtual Reality Intervention for Stress Reduction Among Patients With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease:

Katherine E Makaroff1, Christopher Van1, Vincent Grospe2

  • 1David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States, 1 310 825 8816.

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Virtual reality (VR) significantly reduced stress in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This safe and feasible intervention shows promise for managing psychological stress and improving heart health.

Keywords:
CVDbehavioral cardiologyblood pressurecardiac rehabilitationcardiologycardiovascular diseasedigital healthheart disease risk factorsheart ratemixed methodspilotriskstressstress reductionsurveyvirtual reality

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychology
  • Medical Technology

Background:

  • Virtual reality (VR) is a low-risk strategy for managing psychological stress and improving cardiovascular health.
  • Scientific statements emphasize the mind-heart-body connection and advocate for behavioral cardiology interventions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of a VR experience for stress reduction in patients with or at risk for CVD.

Main Methods:

  • A convergent mixed-methods pilot study involving 20 patients from UCLA cardiology clinics.
  • Collected surveys (STAI-S scale) and physiological parameters before, during, and after a 30-minute VR relaxation experience.
  • Utilized semistructured interviews analyzed with inductive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Significant decrease in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) scores (P<.001).
  • Significant reduction in heart rate (P<.001), with stable blood pressure and galvanic skin response.
  • Participants reported a sense of "distance from stress" and found the VR experience safe and tolerable.

Conclusions:

  • The VR intervention demonstrated safety and feasibility for stress reduction in patients with or at risk for CVD.
  • Statistically significant decrease in subjective stress perception, partially supported by physiological data.
  • Further research is warranted to evaluate VR's effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular risk profiles.