Effects of voluntary slow breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability: A systematic review and a meta-analysis. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laborde, S.; Allen, M.S.; Borges, U.; Dosseville, F.; Hosang, T.J.; Iskra, M.; Mosley, E.; Salvotti, C.; Spolverato, L.; Zammit, N.; Javelle, F.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 138(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Heart rate variability biofeedback -- Parasympathetic nervous system -- Vagus nerve -- Cardiac coherence -- Slow breathing -- Deep breathing -- Abdominal breathing -- Diaphragmatic breathing; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Abstract: Voluntary slow breathing (VSB) is used as a prevention technique to support physical and mental health, given it is suggested to influence the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). However, to date, no comprehensive quantitative review exists to support or refute this claim. We address this through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of VSB on heart rate variability (HRV). Specifically, we focus on HRV parameters indexing PNS activity regulating cardiac functioning, referred to as vagally-mediated (vm)HRV: (1) during the breathing session (i.e., DURING), (2) immediately after one training session (i.e., IM-AFTER1), as well as (3) after a multi-session intervention (i.e., AFTER-INT). From the 1842 selected abstracts, 223 studies were suitable for inclusion (172 DURING, 16 IM-AFTER1, and 49 AFTER-INT). Results indicate increases in vmHRV with VSB, DURING, IM-AFTER1, and AFTER-INT. Given the involvement of the PNS in a large range of health-related outcomes and conditions, VSB exercises could be advised as a low-tech and low-cost technique to use in prevention and adjunct treatment purposes, with few adverse effects expected. Highlights: Voluntary slow breathing: VSB; vagally-mediated heart rate variability: vmHRV. We perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of VSB on HRV. Results indicate increases in vmHRV with VSB considering 3 time points. Time points: during, after 1 session, after a multi-session intervention. VSB can be advised as prevention and adjunct treatment for many conditions.