Among patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), using virtual reality (VR) during the procedure relieved anxiety and promoted more stable vital signs, according to research presented during the ACC Middle East 2025 Together with 16th Emirates Cardiac Society Conference, held in Dubai, UAE.

In a meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials with 451 participants, investigators Yousef Radwan Alnomani, MBBCH, et al., found that VR scenarios, such as peaceful nature scenes of waterfalls, mountains and valleys, significantly reduced anxiety when shown to patients during CAG compared to standard of care (Hedges' g = –1.25; p=0.03). VR was also associated with lower changes in heart rate (mean difference [MD] –6.91; p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (MD –11.85; p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (MD –9.88; p<0.00001).

While VR shown before CAG also reduced anxiety, the difference was not sufficient to show efficacy.

"Immersing patients in a 3D simulation offers better relaxation than just watching a similar video on a screen," says Alnomani, a clinical researcher at Benha University in Egypt and the study's lead author. "Virtual reality offers an innovative solution to manage and reduce the anxiety of patients undergoing an interventional cardiovascular procedure, like coronary angiography," during which they are typically awake.

Learn more about ACC Middle East 2025 Together with 16th Emirates Cardiac Society Conference, taking place Oct. 3-5 in Dubai, UAE. Plus, follow the ACC on social media and use the hashtag #ACCMidEast to join the conversations.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Invasive Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, Noninvasive Imaging, Interventions and Imaging, Angiography, Nuclear Imaging

Keywords: Coronary Angiography, Anxiety, Virtual Reality