The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent global health concern characterized by elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving cardiac function and alleviating clinical...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04919-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849335245852114944 |
|---|---|
| author | Zongmei Sun Lin Liu Haijun Peng RunFeng Zhang |
| author_facet | Zongmei Sun Lin Liu Haijun Peng RunFeng Zhang |
| author_sort | Zongmei Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent global health concern characterized by elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving cardiac function and alleviating clinical symptoms in HF patients by modulating autonomic nervous system equilibrium. Methods We conducted a comprehensive and systematic search across various scholarly databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Web of Science, to identify RCTs examining the therapeutic benefits of t-VNS in patients with HF. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out using the random-effects model in Review Manager 5.3 software. The research protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO registry with the registration number CRD42024570589. Results The analysis included ten RCTs involving a collective sample of 374 patients with HF. The meta-analysis results revealed that t-VNS treatment significantly increased LVEF (MD 3.21, 95% CI 1.46 to 4.95, P = 0.0003), improved GLS (MD -2.31, 95% CI -3.52 to -1.10, P = 0.0002), enhanced 6-MWD (MD 86.6 m, 95% CI 59.55 to 113.65, P < 0.00001), reduced MLHFQ score (MD -13.32, 95% CI -19.38 to -7.26, P < 0.00001), lowered TNF-α levels (MD -1.47, 95% CI -2.36 to -0.59, P = 0.001), and Significantly reduced HR (MD -4.24, 95% CI -8.27 to -0.22, P = 0.04), t-VNS exhibited good tolerability with no reported adverse events. Conclusion t-VNS represents a promising therapeutic modality for heart failure, providing advantages such as improved cardiac function, enhanced well-being, reduced inflammatory marker levels, reduced HR and favorable safety profile. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d41ac56055274f8aa36f5ceb47ef110a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2261 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders |
| spelling | doaj-art-d41ac56055274f8aa36f5ceb47ef110a2025-08-20T03:45:22ZengBMCBMC Cardiovascular Disorders1471-22612025-07-0125111210.1186/s12872-025-04919-xThe efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysisZongmei Sun0Lin Liu1Haijun Peng2RunFeng Zhang3North Sichuan Medical CollegeNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeAbstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent global health concern characterized by elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving cardiac function and alleviating clinical symptoms in HF patients by modulating autonomic nervous system equilibrium. Methods We conducted a comprehensive and systematic search across various scholarly databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Web of Science, to identify RCTs examining the therapeutic benefits of t-VNS in patients with HF. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out using the random-effects model in Review Manager 5.3 software. The research protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO registry with the registration number CRD42024570589. Results The analysis included ten RCTs involving a collective sample of 374 patients with HF. The meta-analysis results revealed that t-VNS treatment significantly increased LVEF (MD 3.21, 95% CI 1.46 to 4.95, P = 0.0003), improved GLS (MD -2.31, 95% CI -3.52 to -1.10, P = 0.0002), enhanced 6-MWD (MD 86.6 m, 95% CI 59.55 to 113.65, P < 0.00001), reduced MLHFQ score (MD -13.32, 95% CI -19.38 to -7.26, P < 0.00001), lowered TNF-α levels (MD -1.47, 95% CI -2.36 to -0.59, P = 0.001), and Significantly reduced HR (MD -4.24, 95% CI -8.27 to -0.22, P = 0.04), t-VNS exhibited good tolerability with no reported adverse events. Conclusion t-VNS represents a promising therapeutic modality for heart failure, providing advantages such as improved cardiac function, enhanced well-being, reduced inflammatory marker levels, reduced HR and favorable safety profile.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04919-xHeart failureVagus nerve stimulationNon-invasive treatmentMeta-analysisSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Zongmei Sun Lin Liu Haijun Peng RunFeng Zhang The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Heart failure Vagus nerve stimulation Non-invasive treatment Meta-analysis Systematic review |
| title | The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Heart failure Vagus nerve stimulation Non-invasive treatment Meta-analysis Systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-04919-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zongmeisun theefficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT linliu theefficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT haijunpeng theefficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT runfengzhang theefficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT zongmeisun efficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT linliu efficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT haijunpeng efficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis AT runfengzhang efficacyoftranscutaneousvagusnervestimulationinheartfailuremanagementasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis |