Singing and Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults

Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims more lives each year than cancer and chronic respiratory disease combined. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality and risk of a major cardiovascular event in secondary prevention populations, including older adults. Older adults are less likely to participate in CR, as comorbidities in this population, including arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, make participation difficult. Singing is a physical activity that involves components of the vagal nerves manifested as changes in cardiac autonomic regulation. Unlike physical exercise, the effects of singing on cardiovascular health has not been well-studied. The hypothesis for this project is that older patients with CVD will have favorable improvement in cardiovascular biomarkers, including, endothelial function and heart rate variability (HRV), after 30 minutes of singing.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Cardiovascular Risk Factor
• Cardiovascular Health

Interventions

OTHER

Singing with Music Therapist

Music therapy sessions will begin with vocal and breathing warm-up exercises for about 10 minutes. The Music Therapist will play the songs (chosen from a list by the subject) to sing along to and will alter the characteristics of the music (volume, tempo, level of support) to ensure a successful experience for subjects and motivate them to put forth more effort into singing the song. The music therapist will continue to coach throughout the 30-minute session, reminding subjects of strategies practiced and how to implement those strategies while singing. Music therapy sessions will be led by Erica Flores, MT-BC, WMTR, Owner of Healing Harmonies Music Therapy, or a member of her team. Erica and her team of MTs were trained in Neurological Music Therapy.

OTHER

Singing with Guided Video

The videos will include a vocal warm-up (10 minutes long). The subject will then have the option to select and sing two songs (10 minutes each), with offerings in four music genres including Folk, Pop, Country, and a Hymn. Each piece will vary in tempo, melodic contour, and rhythm. The total duration of singing via this format will be 30 minutes.

OTHER

Control Arm

30 minute rest period, no singing will take place during this arm. During this rest period a member of the study team will assist the subject in a hearing test using headphones, a tablet, and a trumpet app. This is done to asses the current hearing level of the subject.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

  collaborator NIH

• Medical College of Wisconsin

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Max Age

79 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-01-17

Primary Completion

2023-08-18

Completion

2023-08-18

Countries

• United States

Study Locations