Effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Qiuling Zhang; Jun Dou; Hua Ao; Dongmei Guo; Xi Yang; Ming Li

doi:10.1111/1744-9987.14243

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Effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Qiuling Zhang·Jun Dou·Hua Ao·Dongmei Guo·Xi Yang·Ming Li

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has shown potential in neurological, autoimmune, and cardiovascular disorders, but its effects on HD patients remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tVNS in HD patients. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial on patients receiving HD ≥6 months. The tVNS group received stimulation for 1 h during the first 2 h of HD sessions, three times weekly for 8 weeks, while the control group received standard care. The primary outcomes were dialysis efficiency (Single-pool Kt/V, Sp Kt/V) and dialysis-related symptoms (Dialysis Symptom Index, DSI), assessed every 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain and fatigue scores, physical performance, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale, hemoglobin levels, Mini-Mental State Examination, and anxiety and depression scores, measured at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were enrolled in the study, with 32 patients assigned to the tVNS group and 31 patients to the control group. At 8 weeks, the tVNS group showed significant improvements in Sp Kt/V (1.31 ± 0.11 vs. 1.25 ± 0.10, p = 0.02), and DSI (12.09 ± 5.84 vs. 16.26 ± 5.27, p = 0.004), as well as reductions in pain and fatigue, and increases in physical function, comfort, and hemoglobin. However, there were no statistically significant changes observed in cognitive function, anxiety, or depression. CONCLUSIONS: tVNS could improve dialysis efficiency, symptoms, and physical function in HD patients, indicating it may have a role as a complementary therapy.

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Humans Female Renal Dialysis Male Vagus Nerve Stimulation Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation Middle Aged Aged Treatment Outcome Kidney Failure, Chronic Fatigue Pain complementary therapy hemodialysis hemodialysis efficiency symptoms transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial

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Qiuling Zhang, Jun Dou, Hua Ao, Dongmei Guo, Xi Yang, Ming Li. 2025-01-04. Effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-9987.14243

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Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial resource Aged subject Fatigue subject Female subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Kidney Failure, Chronic subject Male subject Middle Aged subject Pain subject Randomized controlled trials study hemodialysis subject

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