Summary
Among chronic pain patients on opioids, those with opioid use disorder have significantly lower HRV than those without, suggesting HRV could serve as a biomarker for addiction risk.
Methods
Comparison of HRV in OUD vs non-OUD opioid patients
Key Findings
- OUD patients have significantly lower HF-HRV (d = 0.36)
- Lower HRV correlates with higher craving intensity
- HRV correlates with OUD severity
- May help identify patients at addiction risk
- Potential target for treatment interventions
Limitations
Cross-sectional design, chronic pain confounds
What This Means for You
If you're on long-term opioid therapy, low HRV may signal increased addiction vulnerability. Monitoring HRV alongside other markers could help identify when additional support is needed.
Source
Read the original paper in Addiction Biology ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-10