Dolgilevica, Karina and Grunfeld, Elizabeth and Derakshan, N. (2025) Heart rate variability biofeedback training can improve menopausal symptoms and psychological well-being in women with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer: a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Current Oncology 32 (3), p. 150. ISSN 1718-7729.
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Abstract
Breast cancer survivors experience numerous chronic symptoms linked to autonomic dysfunction including anxiety, stress, insomnia, menopausal symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Effective non-pharmacological solutions to address these are currently lacking. Methods: Our three-armed longitudinal randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of a 4-week remote smartphone-based heart rate variability biofeedback intervention which involved daily paced breathing at 6 breaths p/min; active (12 breaths p/min) and waitlist controls were included. Heart rate variability and self-reported cancer-related symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-, and 6 months-post intervention. Participants were 60 UK-based women with primary breast cancer history (6 to 60 months post-active treatment). Results: The intervention group showed significant increases in low-frequency heart rate variability over time (F (4, 103.89) = 2.862, p = 0.027, d = 0.33), long-lasting improvement in sleep quality (F (4, 88.04) = 4.87, p = 0.001, d = 0.43) and cessations in night sweats (X2 (2, N = 59) = 6.44, p = 0.04, Cramer’s V = 0.33), and reduced anxiety post-intervention compared to the active and waitlist controls (F (4, 82.51) = 2.99, p = 0.023, d = 0.44). Other findings indicated that the intervention and active control participants reported lasting improvements in cognitive function, fatigue, and stress-related symptoms (all ps < 0.05). The waitlist group reported no symptom changes across time. Conclusion: Heart rate variability biofeedback is a feasible intervention for addressing diverse chronic symptoms commonly reported by breast cancer survivors.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | breast cancer; heart rate variability; menopausal symptoms; intervention |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences |
| Research Centres and Institutes: | Building Resilience in Breast Cancer |
| Depositing User: | Beth Grunfeld |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Mar 2025 16:02 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Aug 2025 04:18 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/55116 |
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