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
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 rando...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/3/150 |
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| author | Karina Dolgilevica Elizabeth Grunfeld Nazanin Derakshan |
| author_facet | Karina Dolgilevica Elizabeth Grunfeld Nazanin Derakshan |
| author_sort | Karina Dolgilevica |
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| description | 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, <i>p</i> = 0.027, <i>d</i> = 0.33), long-lasting improvement in sleep quality (F (4, 88.04) = 4.87, <i>p</i> = 0.001, <i>d</i> = 0.43) and cessations in night sweats (<i>X</i><sup>2</sup> (2, <i>N</i> = 59) = 6.44, <i>p</i> = 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, <i>p</i> = 0.023, <i>d</i> = 0.44). Other findings indicated that the intervention and active control participants reported lasting improvements in cognitive function, fatigue, and stress-related symptoms (all <i>ps</i> < 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. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-efb3f6d8afcc4fa191f0761ddadbcbfb2025-08-20T03:43:30ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292025-03-0132315010.3390/curroncol32030150Heart 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 TrialKarina Dolgilevica0Elizabeth Grunfeld1Nazanin Derakshan2Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UKDepartment of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UKResilience and Post-Traumatic Growth Centre, National Centre for Integrative Oncology (NCIO), Reading RG10 9XQ, UKBreast 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, <i>p</i> = 0.027, <i>d</i> = 0.33), long-lasting improvement in sleep quality (F (4, 88.04) = 4.87, <i>p</i> = 0.001, <i>d</i> = 0.43) and cessations in night sweats (<i>X</i><sup>2</sup> (2, <i>N</i> = 59) = 6.44, <i>p</i> = 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, <i>p</i> = 0.023, <i>d</i> = 0.44). Other findings indicated that the intervention and active control participants reported lasting improvements in cognitive function, fatigue, and stress-related symptoms (all <i>ps</i> < 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/3/150breast cancerheart rate variabilitymenopausal symptomsintervention |
| spellingShingle | Karina Dolgilevica Elizabeth Grunfeld Nazanin Derakshan 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 breast cancer heart rate variability menopausal symptoms intervention |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | breast cancer heart rate variability menopausal symptoms intervention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/3/150 |
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