Atypical reactivity of heart rate variability to stress and depression across development: Systematic review of the literature and directions for future research

Objective Vagal nerve activity—indexed by heart rate variability (HRV)—has been linked to altered pain processing and inflammation, both of which may underpin headache disorders and lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here we examined the evidence for differences in parasympathetic (vagal) activity indexed by time- and frequency-domain measures of HRV in patients with headache disorders compared to healthy controls (HCs). Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on studies investigating group differences in vagally mediated HRV (vmHRV) including time- (root-mean-square of successive R-R-interval differences (RMSSD)) and frequency- (high-frequency HRV) domain measures. Studies eligible for inclusion were identified by a systematic search of the literature, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results Seven studies reporting a total of 10 comparisons of patients with headache disorders (HF-HRV n = 67, RMSSD n = 122) and HCs (HF-HRV n = 64, RMSSD n = 125) were eligible for inclusion. Random-effects meta-analysis revealed a significant main effect on RMSSD ( Z = 2.03, p = 0.04; Hedges’ g = −0.63; 95% CI (−1.24, –0.02); k = 6) and similar pooled effect size estimates for HF-HRV when breathing was controlled ( g = −0.30; 95% CI (−0.69; 0.10)) but not when breathing was not controlled ( g = 0.02; 95% CI (−0.69; 0.74)). Controlling for breathing had no effect on RMSSD. Conclusion vmHRV is reduced in patients with headache disorders, findings associated with a medium effect size. Suggestions for future research in this area are provided, emphasizing a need to investigate the impact of headache disorders and commonly comorbid conditions—including mental disorders—as well as the investigation of the risk for CVD in migraine in particular. We further emphasize the need for large-scale studies to investigate HRV as a mechanism mediating the association of migraine and CVD.

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Heart rate variability and the metabolic syndrome: a systematic review of the literature

Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews ◽

10.1002/dmrr.2555 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 784-793 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Melanie I. Stuckey ◽

Mikko P. Tulppo ◽

Antti M. Kiviniemi ◽

Robert J. Petrella

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome

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Parent–Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4695

Author(s):

Chiara Ionio ◽

Giulia Ciuffo ◽

Marta Landoni

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Maternal Separation ◽

Biological Indicators ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Stress Regulation ◽

Skin Contact ◽

Neonatal Maternal Separation ◽

Skin To Skin

Several studies have focused on neonatal maternal separation (MS) to investigate behavioural and neuroendocrine reactions to lack of contact, but only a few have focused on early separation in the first days or weeks after birth. This literature review investigates the vital importance of contact and touch by exploring how skin-to-skin contact (SSC) regulates stress in the mother–infant relationship. Various databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched for literature published between 2015 and 2020. From 1141 articles, 22 were declared eligible. The reviewed articles showed how SSC regulates child stress by biological indicators such as the autonomic nervous system (ANS), heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol, and oxytocin. This research concludes the importance of SSC for stress regulation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no research to date indicating a possible risk of neonatal COVID-19 transmission following SSC, SSC should continue to be practiced for all women, as recommended by the WHO.

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Telepractice for Adult Speech-Language Pathology Services: A Systematic Review

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_persp-19-00146 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 326-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kristen Weidner ◽

Joneen Lowman

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽

Future Research ◽

Service Delivery Model ◽

Speech Language Pathology ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Research Designs ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Language Pathology ◽

Screening Assessment

Purpose We conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding adult telepractice services (screening, assessment, and treatment) from approximately 2014 to 2019. Method Thirty-one relevant studies were identified from a literature search, assessed for quality, and reported. Results Included studies illustrated feasibility, efficacy, diagnostic accuracy, and noninferiority of various speech-language pathology services across adult populations, including chronic aphasia, Parkinson's disease, dysphagia, and primary progressive aphasia. Technical aspects of the equipment and software used to deliver services were discussed. Some general themes were noted as areas for future research. Conclusion Overall, results of the review continue to support the use of telepractice as an appropriate service delivery model in speech-language pathology for adults. Strong research designs, including experimental control, across multiple well-described settings are still needed to definitively determine effectiveness of telepractice services.

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A preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on heart rate variability and respiration of athletes

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2020-0528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey Cayaban Pagaduan ◽

Yung-Sheng Chen ◽

James William Fell ◽

Sam Shi Xuan Wu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Academic Research ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Quantitative Review ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Randomized Control

Abstract To date, there is no quantitative review examining the influence of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) on the athlete population. Such an undertaking may provide valuable information on the autonomic and respiration responses of athletes when performing HRV BFB. Thus, purpose of this preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of HRV BFB on HRV and respiration of athletes. Searches of Springerlink, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PROQUEST Academic Research Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were conducted for studies that met the following criteria: (1) experimental studies involving athletes that underwent randomized control trial; (2) availability of HRV BFB as a treatment compared with a control (CON)/placebo (PLA); (3) any pre and post HRV variable and/or breathing frequency as dependent variable/s; and, (4) peer-reviewed articles written in English. Four out of 660 studies involving 115 athletes (25 females and 90 males) ages 16–30 years old were assessed in this review. Preliminary findings suggest the promising ability of HRV BFB to improve respiratory mechanics in athlete population. More work is needed to determine the autonomic modulatory effect of HRV BFB in athletes.

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Smart Devices and Wearable Technologies to Detect and Monitor Mental Health Conditions and Stress: A Systematic Review

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21103461 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 3461

Author(s):

Blake Anthony Hickey ◽

Taryn Chalmers ◽

Phillip Newton ◽

Chin-Teng Lin ◽

David Sibbritt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Electrodermal Activity ◽

Smart Devices ◽

Stress Detection ◽

Wearable Technologies ◽

Detection Of Stress ◽

Anxiety Depression

Recently, there has been an increase in the production of devices to monitor mental health and stress as means for expediting detection, and subsequent management of these conditions. The objective of this review is to identify and critically appraise the most recent smart devices and wearable technologies used to identify depression, anxiety, and stress, and the physiological process(es) linked to their detection. The MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, and PsycINFO databases were used to identify studies which utilised smart devices and wearable technologies to detect or monitor anxiety, depression, or stress. The included articles that assessed stress and anxiety unanimously used heart rate variability (HRV) parameters for detection of anxiety and stress, with the latter better detected by HRV and electroencephalogram (EGG) together. Electrodermal activity was used in recent studies, with high accuracy for stress detection; however, with questionable reliability. Depression was found to be largely detected using specific EEG signatures; however, devices detecting depression using EEG are not currently available on the market. This systematic review highlights that average heart rate used by many commercially available smart devices is not as accurate in the detection of stress and anxiety compared with heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, and possibly respiratory rate.

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Effect of Acupuncture on Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/819871 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Joanne W. Y. Chung ◽

Vincent C. M. Yan ◽

Hongwei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

High Frequency ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Keyword Search ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Control Group

Aim.To summarize all relevant trials and critically evaluate the effect of acupuncture on heart rate variability (HRV).Method.This was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Keyword search was conducted in 7 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data extraction and risk of bias were done.Results.Fourteen included studies showed a decreasing effect of acupuncture on low frequency (LF) and low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio) of HRV for nonhealthy subjects and on normalized low frequency (LF norm) for healthy subjects. The overall effect was in favour of the sham/control group for high frequency (HF) in nonhealthy subjects and for normalized high frequency (HF norm) in healthy subjects. Significant decreasing effect on HF and LF/HF ratio of HRV when acupuncture was performed on ST36 among healthy subjects and PC6 among both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, respectively.Discussion.This study partially supports the possible effect of acupuncture in modulating the LF of HRV in both healthy and nonhealthy subjects, while previous review reported that acupuncture did not have any convincing effect on HRV in healthy subjects. More published work is needed in this area to determine if HRV can be an indicator of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture.

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Microvascular decompression for tinnitus: systematic review

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2016.2.jns152913 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 1148-1157 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Brenton Nash ◽

Matthew L. Carlson ◽

Jamie J. Van Gompel

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Microvascular Decompression ◽

English Language ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Future Research ◽

Symptom Duration ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Preoperative Symptom ◽

Operative Outcomes ◽

Review Reports

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine operative outcomes in cases of microvascular decompression (MVD) of cranial nerve (CN) VIII for tinnitus through a critical review of the literature. METHODS Forty-three English-language articles were gathered from PubMed and analyzed. In this review, two different case types were distinguished: 1) tinnitus-only symptomatology, which was defined as a patient with tinnitus with or without sensorineural hearing loss; and 2) mixed symptomatology, which was defined as tinnitus with symptoms of other CN dysfunction. This review reports outcomes of those with tinnitus-only symptoms. RESULTS Forty-three tinnitus-only cases were found in the literature with a 60% positive outcome rate following MVD. Analysis revealed a 5-year cutoff of preoperative symptom duration before which a good outcome can be predicted with 78.6% sensitivity, and after which a poor outcome can be predicted with 80% specificity. CONCLUSIONS As the 60% success rate is more promising than several other therapeutic options open to the chronic tinnitus sufferer, future research into this field is warranted.

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A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1380

Author(s):

Kirsten McEwan ◽

David Giles ◽

Fiona J. Clarke ◽

Yasu Kotera ◽

Gary Evans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Increase Heart Rate ◽

Future Research ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Forest Bathing ◽

Mind Training

Forest Bathing, where individuals use mindfulness to engage with nature, has been reported to increase heart rate variability and benefit wellbeing. To date, most Forest Bathing studies have been conducted in Asia. Accordingly, this paper reports the first pragmatic controlled trial of Forest Bathing in the United Kingdom, comparing Forest Bathing with a control comprising an established wellbeing intervention also known to increase heart rate variability called Compassionate Mind Training. Sixty-one university staff and students (50 females, 11 males) were allocated to (i) Forest Bathing, (ii) Compassionate Mind Training or (iii) Forest Bathing combined with Compassionate Mind Training. Wellbeing and heart rate variability were measured at baseline, post-intervention and three-months follow-up. There were improvements in positive emotions, mood disturbance, rumination, nature connection and compassion and 57% of participants showed an increase in heart rate variability. There were no significant differences between conditions, showing that Forest Bathing had equivalence with an established wellbeing intervention. The findings will help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the effects of Forest Bathing and implement it as a feasible social prescription to improve wellbeing. Future research needs to involve clinical populations and to assess the effects of Forest Bathing in a fully powered randomised controlled trial.

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