Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Heart Failure
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with heart failure? 17 human studies have investigated VNS for heart failure, including 4 systematic reviews, 5 RCTs, and 3 controlled trials, published between 2014 and 2026, with 8 published since 2022. Studies use implanted (iVNS), transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
4 systematic reviews · 5 RCTs · 3 controlled trials · 4 observational studies · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 4Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 5Randomised controlled trials
- 3Controlled clinical trials
- 4Observational & cohort studies
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 12iVNS
- 4taVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
8 of 17 studies (47%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
17 studies · strongest evidence firstNetwork meta-analysis on efficacy of nerve stimulation or modulation in patients with heart failure
Tseng et al. · Heart rhythm · 2026
systematic reviewsiVNSThe efficacy of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in heart failure management - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Sun et al. · BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2025 · n = 374
systematic reviewstaVNSNon-pharmacologic autonomic neuromodulation for treatment of heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Ahmed et al. · Trends in cardiovascular medicine · 2024 · n = 1,037
systematic reviewsiVNSVagal Neuromodulation in Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Sant'Anna et al. · Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · 2021
systematic reviewsiVNSVagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: The ANTHEM-HFrEF Trial
Konstam et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · 2026 · n = 532
RCTsiVNSBlood Pressure Variability After Non-invasive Low-level Tragus Stimulation in Acute Heart Failure
Nagai et al. · Journal of cardiovascular translational research · 2024 · n = 22
RCTstaVNSNeuromodulation of Inflammation to Treat Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Stavrakis et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · 2022 · n = 26
RCTstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Heart Failure: The INOVATE-HF Trial
Gold et al. · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · 2016 · n = 707
RCTsiVNSChronic vagal stimulation for the treatment of low ejection fraction heart failure: results of the NEural Cardiac TherApy foR Heart Failure (NECTAR-HF) randomized controlled trial
Zannad et al. · European Heart Journal · 2015 · n = 96
RCTsiVNSClinical outcome of electrical transcutaneous auricular vagal stimulation in patients with stable symptomatic chronic heart failure - A pilot study
Schukro et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine · 2025 · n = 12
controlled trialstaVNSAutonomic regulation therapy in chronic heart failure with preserved/mildly reduced ejection fraction: ANTHEM-HFpEF study results
Kumar et al. · International Journal of Cardiology · 2023 · n = 52
controlled trialsiVNSAutonomic regulation therapy via left or right cervical vagus nerve stimulation in patients with chronic heart failure: results of the ANTHEM-HF trial
Premchand et al. · Journal of Cardiac Failure · 2014 · n = 60
controlled trialsiVNSLong-term Follow-Up of Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction Receiving Autonomic Regulation Therapy in the ANTHEM-HF Pilot Study
Sharma et al. · International Journal of Cardiology · 2021 · n = 60
observational studiesiVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Provides Multiyear Improvements in Autonomic Function and Cardiac Electrical Stability in the ANTHEM-HF Study
Nearing et al. · Journal of Cardiac Failure · 2021 · n = 25
observational studiesiVNSLong-term vagal stimulation for heart failure: Eighteen month results from the NEural Cardiac TherApy foR Heart Failure (NECTAR-HF) trial
De Ferrari et al. · International Journal of Cardiology · 2017 · n = 96
observational studiesiVNSExtended Follow-Up of Patients With Heart Failure Receiving Autonomic Regulation Therapy in the ANTHEM-HF Study
Premchand et al. · Journal of Cardiac Failure · 2016 · n = 49
observational studiestcVNSVagal stimulation in heart failure
Dusi et al. · Herz · 2021
narrative reviewsiVNS