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The Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Patients with Preterm Labour

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Abstract

Preterm birth is a highly prevalent phenomenon that was shown to be associated with mental stress during pregnancy (Rich-Edwards and Grizzard in Am J Obstet Gynecol 192(5 Suppl):S30–S35, 2005). We aimed to assess the effects of heart rate variability (HRV)-biofeedback in patients with preterm labour. Therefore, we conducted a controlled randomized parallel group study in 48 female patients aged 19–38 years (median = 29) with preterm labour at gestational week 24th–32nd (median = 29th). In this study, one group (n = 24) attended six sessions of HRV-biofeedback over 2 weeks whereas patients of the other group (n = 24) were assigned to control sessions. In the HRV-biofeedback treated group, perception of chronic stress was decreased 4 weeks after completion of training compared to baseline (p < 0.05) but there was no change in the control group. In the HRV-biofeedback group, preterm birth was seen in 3 patients (13 %) whereas in the control group, preterm delivery occurred in 8 patients (33 %, p = n.s.). There was no difference in birth weight between groups and HRV remained unchanged. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that HRV-biofeedback can reduce chronic stress in patients with preterm labour when administered as an adjunct to routine care. However, it remains unclear whether stress reduction through HRV-biofeedback has a beneficial effect on preterm birth.

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Acknowledgments

The present work was part of a thesis. The authors are sincerely thankful to Mrs. E. Hempel, and Mrs. C. Schütte for their assistance in conducting the study.

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Correspondence to Martin Siepmann.

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Siepmann, M., Hennig, UD., Siepmann, T. et al. The Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Patients with Preterm Labour. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 39, 27–35 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-013-9238-1

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