ReviewApplied psychophysiology and biofeedback2026
Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Cardiac Autonomic Function in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Review in Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Integrating Chair Yoga and Manual Therapy Into Hypertension Management: Effects on Autonomic Regulation, Muscle Viscoelasticity, and Mental Well-Being.Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
As demonstrated, heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback (HRVB) is effective in managing chronic conditions. However, reviews specifically addressing HRVB effects on cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are lacking. We evaluated HRVB effects on autonomic, hemodynamic, and psychological outcomes in such patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi from inception to April 2025. We included RCTs on HRVB in CVD populations and excluded those without HRV, clinical, or psychological outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Random-effects models were applied to HRV indices, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and psychological outcomes. From 2402 records, 13 RCTs (965 participants; 795 analyzed) were included. HRVB significantly improved the standard deviation of NN interval; low-frequency (LF) and logLF increased, high-frequency (HF) and logHF showed no significant changes. Both systolic (mean difference [MD] = − 3.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 4.77 to − 1.38) and diastolic (MD = − 3.23, 95% CI − 4.69 to − 1.78) blood pressure decreased. Respiratory rate showed no significant changes. Depression (five RCTs) and anxiety (two RCTs) showed no significant improvement. Most studies were rated as having concerns or high risk of bias. The HRVB may modestly enhance autonomic activity and reduce blood pressure in patients with CVD; however, its effects on parasympathetic activity and psychological outcomes remain inconclusive. Further large-scale, rigorously designed trials are required to establish their clinical utility. Registration: PROSPERO; CRD420251030160.
Indexed as
Identifiers
41501316What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.