Effects of Speech-therapy in Hypertensive Patients

Klinik Arlesheim31 enrolled

Overview

Anthroposophic speech therapy (ATS) has been shown to positively influence heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate - respiration coordination in healthy volunteers. This study was performed to learn more about such improvements and possible alteration in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensive patients, which characteristically differ in those regulatory parameters from normotensive patients

In this prospective, primarily pre-post study, patients received three ATS treatments in alternation with three control sessions (casual talking with the therapist). In order to perform HRV-analysis and BRS determination blood pressure and ECG were continuously recorded during the sessions. Changes in subjective well-being and perceived health were assessed by questionnaire before and after the various sessions (mood questionaire). Thirty-one patients participated in this study, the majority diagnosed with arterial hypertension (22 out of 31).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Hypertension

Interventions

Anthroposophic speech therapyBEHAVIORAL

Anthroposophic speech therapy uses sound-combinations like "KLSFM" or "OM" and hexameter verse in German, spoken by the therapist and imitated by the patients, to expand and decelerate respiration. The intervention is conducted by the same qualified therapist for one patient in different days but during the same daytime for 30 minutes in upright position and walking.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Indication for speech therapy * Willing and able to perform speech therapy * Out-patient treatment or planned hospitalisation for at least 14 days. * Diagnosed with hypertension (I 10, either on drug therapy or verified by 24h blood pressure measurements), with tension headache (G 44.2) or with anxiety (F 41) confirmed by the recruiting physician * No alteration in medication affecting HRV for the last 2 months before and during the study Exclusion Criteria: * Comorbidity strongly influencing HRV * Too weak to participate in an active therapy * Pacemaker * Skin disease or allergies preventing the use of ECG electrodes

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change from pre-rest baroreflex sensitivity after intervention and resting.

Baro reflex sensitivity via continuous blood pressure measurement by volume clamp method (non invasive)

Time frame: 30min in total per session. Six sessions per patient in total.

Secondary Outcomes

Change from pre-rest heart rate variability after intervention and resting

Heart rate variability measurements via portable ECG-recorder

Time frame: Measurement over whole session (60min in total). Six sessions per patient in total.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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