Heart Coherence Training on Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patients
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Heartmath Intervention, Control Group.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Basic parameters: 12 years — 45 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
The Effects Of Heart Coherence Training On Patients With Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (HEARTMATH)
Overview
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) is caused by pathogenic variants of the COL3A1 gene, resulting abnormal Type III collagen protein. This impacts the body's connective tissue and makes people with VEDS at high risk of spontaneous aortic and arterial rupture, pneumothorax, and hollow organ perforation across the age spectrum. Given this risk and high potential for lethality, VEDS is considered the most severe type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. In addition, many patients experience chronic pain and fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mental health challenges. As is the case for many patients with chronic illness, stress, anxiety, and depression are often present over the course of the disease. Despite the antecedent, stress and anxiety trigger a sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response in the body, which, over a period of time, can have detrimental effects both physiologically and psychologically for patients. Recent studies have begun to use biofeedback techniques to teach patients non-pharmacological strategies for managing their autonomic nervous system. One such program, Heartmath®, has been successful in helping patients lower stress, anxiety, and systolic blood pressure. This pilot trial was established to assess the effectiveness of a virtually based heart coherence program in a population with a chronic aortopathy in an effort to establish a larger, multi-provider program that also encompasses other cardiovascular populations.
Detailed description
Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (VEDS) is caused by pathogenic variants of the COL3A1 gene, resulting abnormal Type III collagen protein. This impacts the body's connective tissue and makes people with VEDS at high risk of spontaneous aortic and arterial rupture, pneumothorax, and hollow organ perforation across the age spectrum. Given this risk and high potential for lethality, VEDS is considered the most severe type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. In addition, many patients experience chronic pain and fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mental health challenges. As is the case for many patients with chronic illness, stress, anxiety, and depression are often present over the course of the disease. Despite the antecedent, stress and anxiety trigger a sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response in the body, which, over a period of time, can have detrimental effects both physiologically and psychologically for patients. For patients with already compromised cardiovascular systems, the dysregulation of their nervous system can potentially be detrimental to their mental and physiological health, as well as their overall quality of life.
Recent studies have begun to use biofeedback techniques to teach patients non-pharmacological strategies for managing their autonomic nervous system. One such program, Heartmath®, has been successful in helping patients lower stress, anxiety, and systolic blood pressure.
Our primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of an 8 week, virtually-based heart coherence training program (HCTP) with the use of wearable, biofeedback technology. The goal is to perform a randomized-controlled pilot study to assess effect estimates on multiple outcomes in an effort to establish a foundation for a larger, longitudinal trial.
The objective is to:
1. Randomize 20 patients with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome from ages 12 -45 years to current status and care (controls) versus a biofeedback intervention of additional training and advancement on HeartMath techniques, then 2. Allow the control group subjects to then have access to materials related to the techniques that were taught to the HMI group to allow for therapeutic equality. The investigators will then compare outcomes between both the intervention and control groups, and between the baseline and post-intervention states. Specific outcome measures will include ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate variability, coherence ratio, mean heart rate, quality of life/mental health assessment: health-related quality of life, depression and anxiety screening scales.
Our hypothesis is that individuals with VEDS undergoing a supervised HCTP will demonstrate improvements in ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate variability, and mental health survey measures.
Interventions
- Other Heartmath Intervention
The participants will all complete baseline surveys and paperwork including signed consent, psychometric surveys, demographic survey, and a brief, open-ended questionnaire about their feelings about living with VEDS. During the initial visit for the intervention group the same assessment will be included, however, they will also receive 10-15 of instruction on a basic Heartmath technique. Group participants will be asked to complete 5-10 minutes of HeartMath techniques 2x daily. Participants fro - Other Control Group
The participants will all complete baseline surveys and paperwork including signed consent, psychometric surveys, demographic survey, and a brief, open-ended questionnaire about their feelings about living with VEDS. The initial visit will include an HRV assessment using the HeartMath sensor via the 3-step Protocol developed by the HeartMath Institute. Participants from both groups will have weekly virtual sessions that include the 3-step Protocol HRV assessment. After the CG has completed 8 wee
Primary outcome measures
- Percent Change in Mean Overall Systolic Blood Pressure [Time frame: 3 Months]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- Mean systolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Mean Diastolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Nocturnal systolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Nocturnal Diastolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Diurnal Systolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Diurnal Diastolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Daily Systolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Daily Diastolic blood pressure [Time frame: 3 Month]
- Coherence Percentage [Time frame: 3 Months]
- Heart rate variability [Time frame: 3 Months]
- Mean Heart Rate [Time frame: Measured at baseline and follow up visit (at 12 weeks)]
- Nocturnal Heart Rate [Time frame: Measured at baseline and follow up visit (at 12 weeks)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must be diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome verified by a mutation of the COL3A1 gene
- Ages 12-45 year at the time of enrollment
- Access to a smartphone as well as an additional device with camera and microphone
- Stable internet access
- English speaking
Exclusion criteria
- Non-English speakers
- Any conditions or developmental delays limiting the ability to utilize technology or follow directions.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Texas Children's Hospital — Houston
Identifiers
NCT: NCT05994664 · H-53424