Music Reduces Stress in Coronary Heart Disease Patients

Individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) often experience acute distress—due to hospitalization, surgery and loss of control—exacerbating the risk for complications, including cardiac death. Music interventions have been used to relieve anxiety and improve physiological responses.

A new systematic review, an update of a 2009 Cochrane review, provides evidence that listening to pre-recorded music may be beneficial for patients with CHD. A total of 1369 individuals participated in the review, which included 26 trials. Twelve trials included 1 music session offered before or during a cardiac procedure or both, or within 48 hours of hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI). Two trials provided 2 sessions over 2 postoperative days, and 12 trials included 3 or more sessions on consecutive days.

Findings suggest a positive psychological impact of music interventions in people with CHD. For these patients, listening to music had a moderate effect on anxiety, although results were inconsistent. People with MI saw more consistent stress-reducing effects of music, with an average anxiety reduction of 5.87 units on a 20 to 80 point score range. Patients who selected their own music saw the greatest reduction in anxiety.

None of the studies in the review factored preferred patient coping strategies—listening to music during a procedure versus closely monitoring a procedure—and the authors recommend considering culturally relevant music when designing protocols for additional research.

“The fact that the anxiety-reducing effects found in this review are consistent with the anxiety-reducing benefits of music interventions reported in three other Cochrane systematic reviews on the use of music with mechanically-ventilated patients, cancer patients and pre-surgical patients,” notes study author Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC, associate professor, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, “suggests that healthcare professionals should consider the use of music listening and other music therapy interventions for anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease patients.”

- Adrianne O’Brien

Reference

Bradt J, Dileo C, Potvin N. Music for stress and anxiety reduction in coronary heart disease patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013.