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Time since last drink is positively associated with heart rate variability in outpatients with alcohol use disorder
In 42 treatment-engaged adults in early alcohol use disorder recovery, general linear models showed resting HRV indices increased with longer self-reported abstinence (time since last drink), strongest for parasympathetic-dominated metrics, after adjusting for age, medications, and baseline AUD severity; resting heart rate did not decrease as hypothesized.
Design
- Population: N = 42 adults engaged in treatment during the first year of a current AUD recovery attempt
- Exposure: Time since last alcoholic drink at study baseline (timeline follow-back)
- Outcomes: Resting HRV metrics (authors emphasise indices most under parasympathetic control)
- Covariates: Age, medications, baseline AUD severity retained in models
Key outcomes (author interpretation)
- HRV increased as a function of longer abstinence at baseline, matching the preregistered direction
- Resting HR did not show the hypothesised decrease
- Framed as psychophysiological recovery signal in early recovery and potential relapse-risk information—not a randomised “quit drinking for HRV” wellness trial
Evidence hygiene
- External validity: findings come from AUD outpatient recruitment; do not automatically generalise to moderate social drinkers or primary cardiovascular prevention cohorts.
- Design: observational association at one baseline assessment window—causal claims about future drinking require longitudinal outcome papers from the same group.
Publication
Eddie D, Pietrzak A, Ham J. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2023 Dec;48(4):433-437. PMID 37436518; DOI 10.1007/s10484-023-09597-z (updated peer-reviewed version of a 2023 preprint).
Outcomes
- Heart Rate VariabilityResting HRV increased with longer time since last drink in AUD outpatients (N=42); parasympathetic-dominated metrics showed largest associations; persisted after adjustment for age, medications, and baseline severity; resting HR did not decrease.