Key result
A 14-minute singing intervention did not significantly improve the primary endpoint of reactive hyperemia index (1.99 to 2.12, p=0.17), though it significantly increased the Framingham reactive hyperemia index.
Why the study?
Singing involves components of the vagal nerves manifested as changes in cardiac autonomic regulation, but its acute effects on biomarkers of cardiovascular health needed investigation.
Does a 14-minute singing intervention acutely improve vascular function and heart rate variability in adult cardiology clinic patients?
Does a 14-minute singing intervention acutely improve vascular function and heart rate variability in adult cardiology clinic patients?
Absolute Event Rate: 2.12% vs 1.99%
p-value: p=0.17
A short 14-minute singing intervention acutely improved specific markers of vascular endothelial function (fRHI), particularly in patients with abnormal baseline function, while inducing heart rate variability patterns similar to light-intensity exercise.
May transiently improve endothelial function; hypothesis-generating for singing interventions, should not yet change practice.
Background Singing is a physical activity involving components of the vagal nerves manifested as changes in cardiac autonomic regulation. Aims The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the acute effects of singing on biomarkers of cardiovascular health. Methods Adult subjects were recruited from cardiology clinics to participate in a single 90-min study visit. Vascular function was measured at the fingertips with peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) before and after singing to a 14-min video led by a voice expert. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured with a chest strap sensor at baseline, during, and after singing. PAT measurements were expressed as reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI). Measures of HRV included root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of NN (or RR) intervals (SDNN). Results Sixty subjects completed the study (68% female, mean age 61 ±13 years, mean BMI 32 ± 8). There was a significant increase in fRHI (1.88 ± 0.14 to 2.10 ± 0.14, p = 0.02) after singing with no significant change in the RHI (1.99 ± 0.10 to 2.12 ± 0.09, p = 0.22). There was a reduction in HRV during singing (compared to baseline) (RMSSD: 42.0 ± 5 to 32.6 ± 4, p = 0.004 and SDNN: 54 ± 4 to 33.5 ± 3, p = 0.009). HRV measures trended back toward baseline after singing. Conclusions A short duration of singing improved vascular function acutely. Improvements were more substantial in subjects with abnormal baseline endothelial function. HRV patterns were similar to that of light-intensity exercise. Future studies should confirm favorable vascular adaptation to more sustained singing interventions. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , identifer: NCT03805529.
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Somayaji et al. (2022) studied Cardiovascular disease risk factors (n=60). Singing vs. Baseline was evaluated on Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) (p=0.17). A 14-minute singing intervention did not significantly improve the primary endpoint of reactive hyperemia index (1.99 to 2.12, p=0.17), though it significantly increased the Framingham reactive hyperemia index.
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